Parts of Mowbray Golf Course earmarked for affordable housing

The City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee on Tuesday greenlit the initiation of a public participation process for the release of portions of Mowbray Golf Course for mixed-use development, including affordable housing.

The process will commence, pending approval by the City Council later this month.

While the current tenant, King David Mowbray Golf Club, entered into a new 10-year lease in May this year, a two-year cancellation clause has been built into the agreement, providing flexibility to the City’s plans for upgrades to portions of the land.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says developing portions of the golf course is an opportunity to boost the availability of well-located affordable housing, and will also be a catalyst for major infrastructure upgrades in the Mowbray area.

‘While there is still much work ahead to service the land and plan for its long-term development, the greenlight to initiate a public participation process is a crucial step to release this land for inclusive, sustainable development.’

Portions of the Mowbray Golf Course earmarked for a mixed use development

The identified portions of land, totaling approximately 42,8 hectares, have a current market value of R171m (excluding VAT).
The initial phase of redevelopment focuses on two main tracts of land. The first is north of the railway line and bordered by the Pinelands suburb and Elsieskraal canal.
The second tract is not part of the golf course, and is bounded by the N2 and Jan Smuts Drive.
The portion south of the railway line, which houses the Golf Clubhouse, faces significant accessibility challenges and will be considered in future phases.
In line with the City’s 2009 Floodplain and River Corridor Management Policy, portions of these sites below the 1:100 year flood zone will remain designated as open space, preserving the natural green and blue infrastructure functioning of the river system.

The current lessee is responsible for the estimated R6 million annual maintenance and security cost of the property, aside from the R12 714 (VAT inclusive) per annum golf tariff applicable to all City-owned courses for the 2024/25 financial year.

Over the years, the current lessee has made significant contributions to the property’s upgrades.

The City says its development approach involves a phased strategy to ensure both infrastructure readiness and proactive community engagement. The vision for the area includes a mix of residential, commercial, and retail opportunities.

If Council approves the planned re-development, the City will provide details on the public participation process for the release of the land.

Housing activists have cautiously welcomed the announcement

Ndifuna Ukwazi’s Nic Budlender says they are pleased that the City has recognised that ‘inefficient, unjust and exclusive land uses inherited from apartheid’ cannot be sustained indefinitely.

‘It makes little sense to have 10 golf courses situated on well-located public land in the midst of our extreme housing and segregation crisis, so we welcome this progress with open arms. Cape Town desperately needs affordable housing and inclusive densification, and the redevelopment of the golf course should therefore be encouraged and supported.’

He says they will closely monitor the process and they have encouraged all residents to get behind the project.

Activists from Ndifuna Ukwazi and Reclaim the City have been at odds with the City and Province over several key developments, including the Tafelberg site, the old Woodstock Hospital and the Helen Bowden Nurses Home in Green Point. The latter two sites, both earmarked for re-development, have been illegally occupied since 2017.

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