The public has until Wednesday April 30 to give their input on the City’s plans to permanently close the pedestrian walkway from Rosmead Avenue leading to the Bonnytoun informal settlement.
Image: supplied
A proposal to close a pedestrian walkway that leads into an informal settlement in Wynberg East is open for public comment until Wednesday April 30.
The City plans to permanently close the pedestrian walkway leading to the Bonnytoun informal settlement.
The lane runs off Rosmead Avenue, between the Urban Waste Drop-off Facility and the Electricity Depot. Access to Wynberg CBD from the informal settlement is available from Wetton Road as an alternative route.
In the notice for comment, the City states the daily losses of cable theft, home burglaries, theft out of motor vehicles and the robbery of personal belongings experienced by the greater Wynberg community as the reasons for the proposal to permanently close the lane, adding that perpetrators use the lane as a convenient escape into and out of the informal settlement.
Ward 63 councillor, Carmen Siebritz, says the Wynberg East community has seen a steep increase in criminality with many incidents allegedly stemming from the Bonnytoun informal settlement.
“In light of this and after many requests from the local Wynberg East Community, I tabled a motion for the closure of the lane at a sub-council meeting on Friday February 24. The motion was unanimously supported by the sub-council. After many months of process, we are at the public participation stage.
“Residents are urged to use this opportunity to please engage with the City of Cape Town, and have your voices heard. This of course includes the community within the Bonnytoun informal settlement.”
According to chairperson of Wynberg East Civic Association (WECA), Yunus Karriem, the request for closure has come from neighbours and was first suggested by previous ward councillor, the late Monty Oliver, but it did not come to fruition.
“We have had meetings in Bonnytoun about this issue. With the exception of the few good individuals that reside there, we are aware that there are criminals and a criminal syndicate that reside within Bonnytoun.”
“With an increase in cable and water meter theft and other petty crimes, the suggestion for closure came to the fore again, approximately two years ago. This was followed by a site visit with the Mayco member for Human Settlements, Carl Pophaim to the area, which WECA attended. It was agreed that the best solution was to try to close the lane.
“What we have picked up is that the culprits perpetrating these crimes generally run into the Bonnytoun area and the cables are being burnt and smelted for the copper in the area. This has been happening quite frequently recently with the result that ordinary ratepayers in Wynberg are suffering by having many hours without electricity. It’s been a frequent issue and the City has no real answer to this scourge of cable theft and water meter theft.”
Burns Avenue and other immediate roads in the surrounding neighbourhood are the worst hit by the water meter and cable theft.
Despite having neighbourhood watch patrollers and safety and security providers that monitor the area, somehow perpetrators find a way to continue these crimes, Mr Karriem says.
"The informal settlement does have access through Wetton Road, which is a bigger and broader access point and allows vehicles to come in and out. By closing this particular lane, the idea is that it will address and mitigate the issues of cable theft because it will make it more difficult for the criminals to escape easily into Bonnytoun.”
He encouraged all immediate residents to participate in the public participation process.
Comments, recommendations and input on the proposed closure of the pedestrian walkway may be submitted via email, public.participation@capetown.gov.za, on the City’s website or handed into the Sub-council 20 Office at the Alphen Centre. Queries on how to submit your comments can be made to Anthea Bendie on 021 4001450 or email Anthea.Bendie@capetown.gov.za