Proposed population densification in Fish Hoek & other locations

The City plans to overpopulate the Deep South putting stress on local resources by building a low-cost housing development next to Bay Primary School & other locations.

READ a detailed explanation of the DA’s role in densifying Cape Town.

After nearly a decade of delay, the City of Cape Town (COCT) has unveiled the final draft of a so-called “Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF)” for the South Peninsula.

Wrapped in nice sounding words, this plan is anything but developmental. In fact, it is unethical because it will overpopulate the Deep South, putting more stress on the local environment and other resources such as our few local schools.

The next phase includes the relocation of people from Masiphumelele into Fish Hoek, Ocean View and the Lochiel Road smallholdings. The areas in Fish Hoek include Elgin Park which is right next to Bay Primary.

The reason

The reason that the COCT gives for this move is to alleviate congestion in Masiphumelele and enable rehabilitation of the wetland. They claim that moving people – willingly or unwillingly – from Masiphumelele to Ocean View, Fish Hoek, and the Lochiel Road smallholdings will reduce Masiphumelele’s population and help the wetlands recover.

This my friends is folly of the highest degree. The COCT, led by the Democratic Alliance (DA), have officially lost their marbles!

Overpopulate the Deep South

This approach will not alleviate congestion or facilitate wetland recovery, nor will it benefit Masiphumelele residents. Why?

Relocating people from Masiphumelele to Fish Hoek, Ocean View, and the Lochiel Road smallholdings merely displaces temporarily; the vacated areas in Masiphumelele will be occupied by new arrivals. This has already been happening for decades in Masiphumelele. It creates a vacuum!

The influx of more people into the space vacated in Masiphumelele will further stress local infrastructure and environmental resources.

• Existing water and sewage systems, already prone to failure, will face heightened pressure.
• Local schools such are already at maximum capacity. More people will burst the fragile education in the valley.
• Similarly, the wetlands and surrounding mountain areas will experience increased degradation as population density rises.

Not only will more people move into the space created in Masiphumelele, but those living in low-cost housing in Elgin Park and Ocean View will build additional rooms for rental. Go drive up Dido Valley and see for yourself.

Decline of the DA in the Deep South

Analysis of voting patterns indicates that Masiphumelele residents predominantly do not support the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Previous local DA campaigns in Masiphumelele generated mobilization among ANC and EFF supporters, resulting in increased votes for these parties. As IPSOS shows, voting behavior in South Africa continues to exhibit strong ethnic and tribal alignment.

Expanding the population in the Deep South to occupy space vacated in Masiphumelele may therefore undermine the DA’s long-term political position.

Coupled with the decline of the DA-leaning elderly population over the next 10–15 years, this strategy carries significant political risk. But then, perhaps the DA deserve it!

What can I do?

You have a moral responsibility to consider long-term consequences for your grand-children and the local environment. Population expansion in the Deep South will have a significant negative impact on local resources and the environment.