BVA proposes solutions for Tokai High School

The following is a further letter sent by the Bergvliet Voluntary Association (BVA) to both WCED and City of Cape Town officials, in which residents recommend an alternative school design to the one currently being pushed through.

Given the lack of any meaningful response from the various recipients of our previous email, we, together with the broader Bergvliet community, have proceeded to discuss and develop our own solutions to the impasse over the proposed large-scale school development in Bergvliet, Cape Town.

This approach is informed by extensive community engagement and feedback, including a community survey in which approximately 97% of respondents supported an alternative school design that better balances educational needs with environmental, traffic, and community considerations.

An architect was commissioned to design such an alternative school, one of the visuals is attached to this article.

While not in any way final plans, they do present an alternative vision, with multiple opportunities for amendment if a more serious project is commissioned.

Some observations on the proposed design:

1. The wetter part of the field is towards Ruskin, which is why the “untouched” portion is located there. It would also offer a better wildlife corridor than if it were placed on the other side of the school.
2. Access to the sports field could be provided with parking located along the border fence, and people then walk through the gardens to the field. The gardens would also offer alternative seating for those who do not necessarily wish to watch sporting activities.
3. The school has been designed in a modular form. This allows for a phased and flexible approach to the development while helping to contain the scale of the school and reduce the overall impact on the site at present. Any future proposal for expansion would need to be separately motivated, appropriately assessed, and subjected to all relevant traffic, environmental, infrastructure and public participation processes applicable at that time.

Request for specific responses

In light of the above, we request written responses to the following:

1. Would the WCED and CoCT accept this alternative design, which would simultaneously better respond to the community’s needs and concerns, materially reduce the currently identified traffic, environmental and access concerns, and assist in addressing the need for additional school capacity?
   1. If yes: what additional tasks/assessments would need to be undertaken to implement this design in place of the existing design (urban planning/infrastructure assessments, architectural and accessibility review, pre-construction health and safety risk assessment, etc.)?
   2. If not: for what specific reasons (each supported by clear evidence and rationale) would this school solution not be acceptable to the WCED and/or CoCT?
2. Would the WCED and CoCT consider an alternative proposal whereby funding allocated to the currently planned Tokai High School could instead be directed towards upgrading, expanding or improving capacity at an existing school in an area where the need for additional learner places is more directly located?
   1. Crestway High School in Retreat (https://www.news24.com/old-school-site-an-eyesore-20220207)
   2. Old Central Primary School in Diep River (https://constantiabergbulletin.co.za/news/2021-04-01-abandoned-school-hangs-in-limbo-of-neglect/)
3. Will the relevant authorities commit to direct engagement with affected stakeholders before any further implementation, construction-related steps or material reliance on the current proposal?

This article is submitted in the public interest. The issues raised highlight our support for development, but development that is transparent, evidence-based, grounded in reliable data, and accompanied by meaningful public participation.