PRASA’s relocation plans of land invaders on the Central Rail not sustainable

9 September 2022

Yesterday, PRASA signed a “Social Impact” agreement with communities living near the Central Line. Sadly, as is the norm with the ANC government, they did not consult with all affected communities, nor with public representatives prior to the occasion.

The DA was shocked to learn that land occupiers will be moved to the Hedge in Mitchells Plain. How is it possible for this move to be made without a due public consultation process with the community of Mitchells Plain?

This is yet another example of poor governance on the part of the national government and it also shows poor planning by the Housing Development Agency to move thousands of people to an area without proper service infrastructure like schools, police stations, and clinics.

We urgently call on PRASA and the Housing Development Agency to reconsider this relocation plan and to firstly conduct a full public consultation process with the Mitchells Plain community. Further to this, PRASA must consider alternative land and consult those affected communities as well. A lack of public participation on relocation processes could potentially cause unnecessary friction between communities.

The Central Line must become functional as a matter of urgency, but not at the expense of the community it is intended to serve.

We applaud the DA councillors, who immediately took the right action in terms of council policies and procedures when they became aware of this relocation of land invaders.

Issued by Ricardo Mackenzie, DA Constituency Head, Mitchells Plain, 9 September 2022