Bonteheuwel housing project draws flak

Ward councillor Angus McKenzie is drawing flak from Bonteheuwel residents unhappy about his support for a social housing project for 300 families.

Fields in Jasmine and Ivory streets and Bramble Way have been earmarked for the project, but residents say they have signed two petitions against it.

The sites are unsuitable for housing, says Jasmine Street resident Ladovica Gordan.

The Jasmine Street field, known as the Sunday League Field, besides being used by sports clubs for soccer practice, was swamped during winter; a spaza shop and madressa would need to be demolished at the Ivory Street field; and schools used the field in Bramble Way for sport, she said.

“Jasmine Street field is not suitable for a housing project of 300 people. It floods in winter. It is a wet field no matter how much sand they throw there. The current sewerage infrastructure is failing us, so how will it handle another 300 people? The system is already not carrying the burden now.

“Soccer teams use the field as a sports ground, people train their dogs and walk on the field and exercise. After school, children play on the field; sports clubs use it in the afternoon.”

The project was going ahead despite residents signing petitions in 2019 and again in January this year, she said.

“Why must it be in Bonteheuwel? Our children don’t have sports coaches at school. Our community centres close at 4pm so children can’t go there for programmes when they want to. Now they want to take away our field as well.”

Another resident, Zainunesa Buffkins, said the ward councillor should rather give his attention to what she said was the area’s failing sewerage system.

“I would love for everyone to have a house but not to the detriment of the community. I myself am a backyard dweller; I would also love a house, but Bonteheuwel cannot handle more people. We are already 85 000 people living in a place built for 35 000... Why can’t land be allocated for housing outside of Bonteheuwel?”

Mr McKenzie said that all the correct procedures had been followed to ensure that the three sites were suitable for housing.

Each site would have its own sewage station; part of the Sunday League Field would remain for use by soccer clubs; and houses would be built around the madressa and spaza shop in Ivory Street without demolishing them, he said.

“The site is not a wetland. All necessary environmental tests were done and approved. An agreement was reached with clubs that a new soccer field will be built at the site. The houses will be built. We won’t take kindly to any interruptions or any kind of extortion. The interruption of projects despite all the necessary precautions being done will be deemed as a very serious offence.”