City inviting public comment for Mitchells Plain land sale to expand Christel House school

The City of Cape Town is inviting public comment on a proposal to sell 5,6 hectares of City-owned land in Mitchells Plain to Christel House South Africa, for the expansion of its zero-fees private school.

The piece of land is located at 80 Seafarer Drive, Strandfontein.

The City says the proposal represents an opportunity to put a significant municipal asset to productive use while supporting greater access to quality education for children and young people in an underserved community.

Christel House South Africa serves learners from vulnerable and underserved communities, providing no-fee, CAPS-aligned education together with healthcare, nutrition and transport support, psychosocial services, family engagement, and structured post-matric education and career support.

Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos, says when considering selling City-owned land, they have to ask how this asset can best serve the people of Cape Town.

“In this case, we have an established educational institution proposing to invest in the expansion of a zero-fees school that supports vulnerable learners not only academically, but also through healthcare, nutrition, transport, family support and pathways into further education and employment. That is a significant potential benefit for the Mitchells Plain community, and it is one of the key reasons why the City is progressing with the assessment of this proposal.”

“The City is not in the business of holding onto land simply for the sake of owning it. Municipal assets must be managed responsibly and, where appropriate, unlocked to create tangible value for residents. This proposal is particularly compelling because the potential outcome is not simply a new development on City land. It is an investment in young people, in families and in the future of an entire community.”

The proposed sale remains subject to the City’s prescribed property disposal process, including the required internal assessments, legal and technical considerations, governance requirements and public participation.

The City is making the proposal available for public comment before any final decision is taken. The public is invited to submit comments on the proposal by Monday, 31 August 2026.