Proposed Salt River Market Social Housing Development
The City of Cape Town rejects the skewed comments made earlier today, 1 November 2018, by former City councillor Brett Herron, who has severely misrepresented the debate within Council on the proposed development at the Salt River Market.
It is important to re-iterate and ensure that there is no misunderstanding regarding the City’s ongoing commitment to theprovision of affordable, well-located housing.
The Salt River Market Council agenda item, which served before Council on 25 October 2018, remains a demonstrable step towards achieving our goal.
The proposed transfer of the land at a discounted value would facilitate the development of the provision of much needed social housing stock within Salt River.*
If approved, the development of the site and ongoing management would be undertaken through a partnership arrangement with a leading social housing institution, in this instance Communicare.
Given the uniqueness of this project and the importance that this administration places on good governance, it was recommended that the item be referred back for further technical clarification.
Councillors cannot be forced to approve projects through gratuitous statements that question their motives, until they are satisfied that the proposal is fair, equitable and in the interests of the public. Our country is awash with poorly conceived projects that were approved through broad claims that seek to silence due diligence.
Immediately after the Council meeting our City officials engaged with Communicare and we are working together to unpack and clarify the various aspects raised.
Contrary to the sentiments expressed by former councillor Herron, as an administration we are also fully in support of well-located affordable housing, which forms part of our Integrated Development Plan.
It is simply not true to suggest that Council is opposed to the project. Rather, all that has been decided is that Council members be given the opportunity to fully apply their minds and to consider all aspects of the proposal before ratifying it at a Council meeting.
Once we have received the necessary clarification and had the opportunity to satisfy ourselves that the proposed development is in the best interests of Council and the residents of Cape Town the item can be re-tabled for consideration.
*Item C 30/10/18: Council was asked to consider the in-principle approval to transfer various erven in Salt River at a discounted value for the purposes of developing a mixed use, mixed income development with an integrated social (rental) housing component.
Statement issued by Alderman Ian Neilson, Acting Executive Mayor, City of Cape Town, 1 November 2018
