PRASA & HDA: Macassar land for Central Line relocation not final

The Project Management Committee (PMC) of the Central Line Relocation & Recovery Project says a public participation must be concluded, before any land is earmarked as a housing site.

The PMC* clarified this, following accusations that it had not followed due processes regarding land in Macassar. Where it apparently intended to relocate illegal occupants, living along the Central Line.

The region’s ward councillor, Peter Helfrich, previously noted that residents were upset that the Passenger Rail Agency and Housing Development Agency had officially designated the land for use – without completing the public participation process.

But the PMC says this is not the case.

A statement by the committee read that it is still in the process of identifying all potential options for the relocation.

“The Macassar land parcels have also been previously explored as a possible viable option, however, no acquisition has been concluded. Public participation will then be undertaken according to the legislated processes.”

The housing situation along the Central Line. IMAGE: Department of Human Settlements

The relocation process

The PMC statement noted that the relocation of households from the Central Line area, undertaken in two phases, involves acquiring land and complying with statutory processes.

It says 8.7 hectares of land in Philippi Wedge has been secured for Phase 1. Ongoing public participation with the affected parties (among other processes) had taken place. This as mandated by Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) and the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning Bylaw.

Right now, there is no land acquired for Phase 2 yet, according to the statement. The HAD are said to be exploring all the options, which included land parcels in Macassar.

“It is critical to note that there are not many land parcels suitable to meet the needs of this process and that the longer the railway line is not operating due to structures blocking the movement of trains, the more many Cape Town residents suffer financially due to exorbitant transport costs.”

While the relocation of the more than 5000 households has not yet started, the PMC says progress has been made on rehabilitating parts of the Central Line.

*The PMC includes the National and Provincial Departments of Transport, Human Settlements, Public Works, the Housing Development Agency, PRASA, and the City of Cape Town.