Rondebosch East residents in Cape Town gathered at the corner of 7th Avenue and Kromboom Road to protest against proposed developments earmarked for the area.
The protest comes amid growing concern over City of Cape Town plans to release well-located municipal land for a mixed-use development that includes social and affordable housing, open-market residential units, retail space and public open areas.
The land in question, situated at Kromboom Road and 7th Avenue, has been identified by the City as part of its affordable housing land release programme. The City has previously said the site could accommodate hundreds of residential units and form part of efforts to deliver affordable housing in well-located areas close to economic opportunities.
However, residents say they are not opposed to development itself, but are concerned about the scale of the proposal and the way the public participation process has unfolded.
Speaking on behalf of the Civic Association of Rondebosch East, Huda Said said the community does not believe the process has been meaningful.
Said said residents feel they have been excluded from having a proper say on the future of the land, as well as the possible impact that construction could have on the surrounding area.
According to the association, the broader proposal could bring more than 1,000 additional housing units, businesses and a possible taxi rank into the area. Residents fear this would place immense pressure on existing infrastructure, including roads, schools, water, sanitation and public services.
Traffic congestion along Kromboom Road and 7th Avenue has been raised as one of the main concerns, with residents warning that the area is already under strain.
The City has maintained that the development forms part of its drive to unlock well-located land for affordable housing. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has previously described the Rondebosch East land as part of the City’s priority portfolio for affordable housing, saying the municipality has already released sites capable of yielding thousands of affordable housing opportunities.
The City has also indicated that the development remains subject to formal processes, including public participation, rezoning and competitive bidding, and that no final development can proceed without the required approvals.
Residents, however, say they want a process that is transparent, lawful and genuinely responsive to community concerns.
The Civic Association says it will continue calling for clarity on the project, including the final number of units, the infrastructure impact, traffic plans, environmental considerations and how the community’s objections will be taken into account.
