Executive Mayor Patricia de Lille recently introduced a programme focusing on the regeneration of identified areas within the City of Cape Town.
The objective is to uplift areas that have been identified as neglected and dysfunctional and are seen to be degenerating rapidly. This programme will help to improve the safety, quality of life and socio-economic situation in these areas, with a particular focus on the public spaces.
The following areas have been identified for the initial roll-out of the Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme:
- Manenberg, Hanover Park, Lotus Park
- Bishop Lavis, Valhala Park, Bonteheuwel
- Harare and Kuyasa Interchange Precinct
- Bellville Transport Interchange precinct and Voortrekker Road corridor
- Westfleur Business Node (Atlantis)
- Athlone CBD
- Ocean View
- Mitchells Plain Town Centre
The selection of these areas was primarily informed by the need to address inequality which is still a reality for many communities within the City – the legacy of many generations of spatial and economic exclusion.
Maintenance of public infrastructure and facilities, in partnership with communities, is the basis of the programme with the objective of stabilising areas and providing a platform for more effective public and private investment. These future investments will be included into the City’s Integrated Development Plan.
It is within this context that the City is introducing the concept of an area-based approach to urban development and management based on the successful Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) programme.
It is the City’s intention, based on the success of this programme, to extend it to other areas that would benefit from such intervention.
Area Co-ordinating Teams (ACTs) will be set up within the identified communities, under the umbrella of the relevant Subcouncils. These teams will provide a platform for representatives of the communities, businesses, non-governmental organisations and the City to engage on a regular basis on issues such as:
- Operations of public buildings
- Maintenance of infrastructure
- Cleansing
- Law enforcement, safety and security,
- Informal trader management
- Prioritisation and preparation of community action plans
- Area-based monitoring of performance and levels of service delivery, in terms of agreed criteria and indicators
The City Manager has appointed convenors for the establishment of the ACTs and their first meetings will be held before the end of April. The ACTs will report regularly to a Subcommittee of the Mayoral Committee set up by the Executive Mayor, which will be chaired by the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Councillor Tandeka Gqada.
