City of Cape Town invest R30 million to upgrade 70 public housing staircases and 30 buildings

The City of Cape Town started fixing staircases in Lavender Hill on Thursday 16 November.PHOTOS: Supplied


  • The City of Cape Town’s human settlements directorate has a total priority investment in public housing maintenance and repairs of more than R1,2 billion over the next three years.
  • A R30 million boost will see the upgrade of 70 public housing staircases and 30 buildings in Lotus River, Lavender Hill and Ocean View.
  • Approximately R200 million has been spent on staircase upgrades since 2018, which includes the repair and replacement of over 1 300 priority staircases.

A R30 million boost will see the upgrade of 70 public housing staircases and 30 buildings in Lotus River, Lavender Hill and Ocean View.

The maintenance work, which commenced earlier this month, is expected to be completed in June next year.

On Thursday 16 November, Mayco member for human settlements Carl Pophaim revealed that the funds are aimed at boosting rental stock in the communities.

“Approximately R200 million has been spent on staircase upgrades since 2018, which includes the repair and replacement of over 1 300 priority staircases.

“The City of Cape Town’s human settlements directorate has a total priority investment in public housing maintenance and repairs of more than R1,2 billion over the next three years.”

Pophaim further claims that the majority of repair work at public housing units is due to vandalism.

“The City is one of the biggest landlords in the country and an estimated 160 000 people currently benefit from the affordable rental public housing units operated by the City.

“The safety of our tenants is a priority and I would like to thank our residents who are temporarily inconvenienced while this essential work is underway.”

The City of Cape Town commenced with the upgrade of 70 public housing staircases and 30 buildings in Lotus River, Lavender Hill and Ocean View.PHOTO:

The maintenance work on public housing flats across the metro includes Hangberg, Parkwood, Hanover Park, Manenberg, Lavender Hill and Steenberg, Heideveld, Scottsdene, Macassar, Lwandle, Avonwood, Leonsdale, Adriaanse, Clarke’s Estate, Ravensmead, and Atlantis among others.

“Due to the large volume of service requests, it is the City’s priority to attend to the most urgent repairs first. Staircase repairs and replacement were identified as a priority.”

Meanwhile, Dorothy Soetwater, a community leader from Lavender Hill, claims that as residents they’ve asked the City for years to do repairs on stairs, windows and fences.

“Last week, the City started fixing staircases in Roos Court and we are happy but we hope they will do the windows next. We fought with the City for the staircases,” said Soetwater.

She claimed the work was for political gains. “Now they are ready to do it quickly because it is elections next year. They have a strategy to win votes.”

Soetwater adds that another concern is the fence. She claims gang members run rampant between the courts. “We begged for fencing but, no. That is going to be another fight. We have elderly people and our young people are in danger. There are a lot of deaths in the community.

“Currently, there is a gang ceasefire but it can start up again at any time. We are fed up of living in these conditions. We’ve complained about fencing around the flats so that people can’t just enter the place, gangsters shoot out of our courts.”

You need to be Logged In to leave a comment.