A public open space (POS) in Plumstead, until recently occupied by a group of street people, now stands fenced and ready to be transformed into a community food garden.
People’s Post first reported on the social ills happening at the field located on the corner of Gabriel and Bardia roads two years ago.
The patch of public land next to the Shell petrol station became a preferred spot for street people to pitch their tents smack dab in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Plumstead residents were at their wit’s end with the sights, sounds and smells coming from the POS as City of Cape Town bylaws – including open fires, late-night partying, public urination and defecation, and alleged criminal activities – were being broken by the field’s inhabitants. But with disaster management regulations in place, law enforcement’s hands were tied.
At the time, Elaine Rousseau, the owner of the Food Fanatics & Homestead Venue located just up the road from the POS, told People’s Post that the situation was not only untenable for residents who lived close to the field but, if left unchecked, it would lead to many of the businesses in the area closing down.
In stepped the Gabriel Road Area Project Association (Grapa), a civic organisation formed by local business owners and residents with the aim of finding solutions.
In October of that year, Grapa organised and held a clean-up and planting at the site, with the hands-on help of 40 community volunteers.
This would be the first of many to follow.
At Grapa’s AGM held at the Homestead on Monday 20 February, the association not only announced their new approved status as both a non-profit organisation (NPO) and a public benefit organisation (PBO), they also reported back on the progress they, working in partnership with Plumstead Community Gardens (PCG), have made at the POS.
Demarcated as a road reserve, the field in question is owned by the Department of Transport and Public Roads Department. Having managed to facilitate a Land Management Agreement with the department, Grapa received permission to proceed with the Community Food Garden project.
Earlier this month, thanks to a donation from the local Shell garage and a nearby property owner, the entire open field was fenced.
When People’s Post visited the POS directly after the AGM, the fenced area was completely free of tents, with two structures still standing on a small verge outside the fenced area.
Rousseau, who is also an exco member of Grapa, says volunteers from the community have started cleaning the field, beginning with the soil.
“Due to the fact that people have been living on the field, the ground is riddled with batteries and sharp objects such as glass. We are busy cleaning up, completely by hand, toiling the land with compost.”
Dr George Birch, project coordinator, PCG, says the project will consist of different phases with the goal of creating different areas: local fynbos borders, regenerative permaculture space, allotment beds for community members and a market garden section.
PCG is a community-based organisation that creates edible and indigenous green spaces and assists established projects in and around the area.
Established in March 2020, PCG is involved at various sites around Plumstead. Initially their focus was solely edible gardening.
“But this required land tenure and marked financial inputs which we didn’t have. So we have been establishing small-scale indigenous, edible gardens with the longer-term goal of attracting buy-in from partners and residents.”
As to progress at the field next to the Shell garage, Birch says, with the support of local businesses and the community, they have been able to place water tanks and a well-point.
“We are actively working to establish beds and start planting.”
Birch adds that once established, the community garden will aim to contribute to improving food security for less-fortunate households in surrounding communities, promoting social cohesion by providing space and opportunity for interaction and connection in the garden, and increasing biodiversity by providing a habitat for local fauna. In the long term, Grapa also hopes to create job opportunities for people to work in the garden.
Emile Langenhoven, councillor for Ward 62, says the project is a test case that can be used in other communities.
“Grapa just pulled it all together and took responsibility for the land. Once a community takes responsibility for a vacant piece of land, people are not going to have to deal with illegal structures.”
“Street people are going to move on. It also brings together the community so that they can work together; so that they can come together and build relationships in the community and also strengthen the community.”
So far, the NPO has been solely reliant on donations from local businesses and residents.
At last week’s AGM, Prof Lorna Martin, chair of Grapa, announced that they were going to implement an annual R100 membership fee per household to go towards Grapa’s administrative fees such as Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) renewals, annual financial statements and subscriptions, as well as monthly operating costs such as security, electricity and maintenance.
“Further to the above, donations and a helping hand at clean-ups or in the garden is always appreciated,” Martin says.
As a registered PBO, Grapa can issue tax certificates for the purpose of tax deductions.
“Also if there are any nurseries or compost producers who would like to make donations – this is probably the most important input at this stage,” says Birch.
- For more information, call 082 530 1161 or email info@grapa.org.za
