A community divided — that was the overwhelming sense at last week’s public meeting organised by the housing implementation department in the City’s human settlements directorate to elect a project engagement committee (PEC) for the Strandfontein housing development project.

The meeting took place at the Strandfontein High School on Thursday December 5, the same night as that of the Strandfontein community police forum’s (CPF) annual general meeting, which caused much unhappiness among several local organisations, including the Strandfontein Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association (SRRA) and Strandfontein Social and Economic Development Forum (SSEDF).

Addressing the community, Ward 43 councillor Elton Jansen said he supports the housing development in principle.

“If you have not yet, do yourself a favour and go visit Sewende Laan, Oppermansoord, etc. You will find people living in difficult circumstances.

“They say we had the two worst winters in Cape Town in 100 years. People who live in brick-and-mortar houses felt it. Just imagine how the people who live in informal settlements felt this past two winters. It is for that reason that I in principle support this housing development,” he said.

Mr Jansen continued to explain the role of the PEC. “When there is a housing project, you elect a PEC that is represented by organisations, stakeholders from the community and includes stakeholders, ratepayers’ associations, CPFs, but also the beneficiaries,” he explained.

He added that the housing project, which will entail 750 units, should benefit residents of the various informal settlements and backyard dwellers in Strandfontein who meet the City’s qualifying criteria.

“The site is (between) Baden Powell, Witsands and Spine Road but not the entire site will be used for housing. One of the recommendations I made is that a section of that site must be rezoned for commercial because the people of Strandfontein have been asking for commercial property where retailers can come in,” Mr Jansen said.

Shortly after handing over to the meeting facilitator to call on the next speaker from the City’s human settlements directorate to explain the purpose of the project, chaos erupted with representatives from the SRRA and SSEDF questioning the timing of the meeting, while residents from the informal settlements called for the meeting to continue.

Resident Baronise Henry, who is a member of SRRA and SSEDF, was among those who objected to election of the PEC on the night.

“My first problem I have with this meeting is that we only received notice yesterday [4 December] that this meeting is taking place. There was a notice in the Plainsman last week and it was also advertised on social media but we were only notified officially yesterday. Today there is a very important CPF meeting, which most of our organisations are attending. The public participation meeting cannot be on the same night as another important meeting. The notice period is also not legitimate. You cannot have public participation one day before the time,” Ms Henry said.

After several objections to the election of the PEC, Mr Jansen intervened and called on the election to be postponed to the new year – much to the behest of residents from the informal settlements.

“I am living in the informal settlement and know what it is like when your blankets are wet, and when you have to send your children to school with a plastic bag with extra clothing, so we want to hear from the City when our houses are going to be built, what date and hour. We don’t want to hear from Elton Jansen. We don’t want any fighting,” said one informal settlement resident who didn’t want to be named.

The meeting was eventually concluded without any election of a PEC.

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