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“ Te l lin g it a s it i s” E-mail: post@peoplespost.co.za
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Tel: 021 713 9440 Fax: 021 713 9481
Protest won’t stop project TAURIQ HASSEN
E
DUCATION authorities insist that construction will go ahead on a new primary school planned for Imizamo Yethu, despite an uproar from one faction of the community. A group of about 40 locals marched to the site where the school is to be built and pelted the site office and machinery with stones on Friday. One man was arrested in connection with the violence and released on bail at the weekend. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and Hout Bay police have responded with promises to beef up security on site to prevent further trouble. Plans for development at Imizamo Yethu include a R280 million transformation of the township (“New start”, People’s Post, 11 August 2009). The development will see between 600 and 1 200 new homes, including two- and three-storey blocks of flats and stand-alone homes, being built. It will incorporate 19 ha of three new sites surrounding the existing settlement, which currently serve as a forestry buffer zone along the perimeters of Hout Bay Main Road, Hughenden and Penzance Estates. The City of Cape Town owns the areas earmarked for the development, and has applied to the Western Cape Provincial Government to rezone the land for residential use. Homes will be allocated according to the City’s housing list. According to media reports, the Andreas and Susan Struengmann Foundation, established in 2007 and sponsoring educational initiatives
in the Western Cape, will help to fund the construction of the school. Ward Councillor Marga Haywood says that the “majority of the community” raised their hands in favour of the school when a meeting was held at the Kronendal School in Hout Bay about three years ago. “As it stands, the majority of the community wanted the school and only a few residents raised some concerns,” says Haywood. “These protesters preferred to have wall-to-wall housing instead and did not find it necessary to build a new school,” says Haywood. Clifford Nogwavu, chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) and an Imizamo Yethu resident, says his house was also pelted with stones and tyres were burnt on the fringes of his property by angry protesters. “This was really traumatising for me and my children, which was also completely unnecessary,” says Nogwavu. He explained that the community was frequently informed through meetings about the development of the school, and “no objections were given” at any stage. “A decision was made by the public to introduce this school, but these few residents wanted to show their concerns in a violent manner, which is the wrong way to handle matters,” says Nogwavu. Nogwavu became aware of the protesters’ opposing sentiment to the school when he heard about meetings being held around the settlement amongst the residents two weeks ago. “They were telling residents that the school is not needed, and housing should be made priority number one,” says Nogwavu. Imizamo Yethu resident, Zim-
Sunday lunch
WHO’S THERE?The South African Navy opened its doors for civilians to explore naval culture when it hosted the annual Navy Festival in Si mon’s Town at the weekend. The fami ly event coincided with the navy’s 89th birthday cele bration and streams of people showed their sup port at the free show at the East Dockyard on Friday night. Here visitors observe a Navy div er in action. Photo: Cassie Carstens
kitha Nonthemba, says residents have been generally unhappy with the construction of the school. “There was no need for a school in that area, but housing should have been made available instead.” “There was lots of anger amongst the residents, but it’s more frustration, as many of them have been waiting for housing,” says Nonthemba. Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, says violent action is wrong. “They showed no respect for that site, because our children needs stuff like this, and now because of a few residents who want houses, they feel the need to just attack the project,” says the resident. The resident says “most of the residents wanted the school” as the majority of the community had said “yes”. “This project cannot be stopped because of a few residents wanting housing. Our children’s futures are important and I would rather con-
tinue to live in my shack, just to get an opportunity to see my children attend a proper school,” says the resident. Chairperson of the Residents’ Association of Hout Bay, Len Swimmer, was deeply disturbed at the actions of the residents and called for a “very strong police presence” around that area. “There will be a lot of money spent on this school and for these residents to treat the project the way they did is disgusting,” says Swimmer Bronagh Casey, spokesperson for the MEC for Education, Donald Grant, confirms that only “minor damages” were caused to the site office and machinery. “Minister Grant is very excited about this project and believes that it has the potential to change the life circumstances of young learners in Imizamo Yethu. He condemns any act of vandalism and calls on the community to help make this project a success,” she said. Warrant Officer Nkosiko Mzuku,
communications officer for the police, confirmed that a 50-year-old man had been arrested on Saturday 4 April. He was charged with malicious damage to property. He could not confirm the name of the man. But Kenny Tokwe, a community worker for Ward 74, told People’s Post that he had been arrested and released on bail yesterday (Monday 4 April). Tokwe appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court. “I was not present at the protest, but there are people who believe I had instigated the protest,” says Tokwe. He says he handed himself over to police in an attempt to prove his innocence, but was later arrested. When asked about the land for the school and the plans in store, he replied: “I have no answers for you.” Mzuku said: “We have deployed more members in the area to monitor the situation and increase the police visibility. We will make sure that the situation is back to normal and the area is safe for everyone”.
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