Klipheuwel residents doing their washing at a communal tap. The City has now bought the land from a private owner. Photo: Masixole Feni
7 March 2016
The City of Cape Town has bought the land on which the Klipheuwel settlement is built and plans to install electricity for residents.
Mayoral spokesperson Zara Nicholson confirmed that the land had been bought last month. The first priority was the installation of electricity, she said. She would not say what price the City had paid.
The acquisition was announced at a meeting between the City and residents last week.
Klipheuwel is an informal settlement about 10km north of Durbanville.There are no schools and clinics in Klipheuwel and people have to travel to Durbanville for most essential services. Most residents do not have access to electricity, piped water or flush toilets in their homes.
In response to residents’ demands, City officials have said they could not install services on private land.
Klipheuwel Development Forum and Kingdom Change Agents Movement, a religious organisation working in the area, both welcomed the acquisition of the land by the City. The Forum’s Setjhaba Kolanchu said residents were waiting to see when the City would bring long awaited services to the area.
“At least the Klipheuwel community voice has finally been answered by the City of Cape Town. We hope the City is going to fulfil its promises,” said Andile Tumana, Executive Director of the Kingdom Change Agents Movement.