Emotions run high at Micthell’s Plain meeting over Prasa relocation of illegal dwellers

• Emotions run high at Rocklands meeting in Mitchell’s Plain following a Prasa land purchase for relocation of illegal dwellers on the Cape Town Central Railway Line.
• The meeting had to be adjourned following provocative statements from political parties, racial and derogatory slurs thrown and myriad angry, off-kilter comments hurled from the audience. 
• The meeting was called to assist, explain and promote completion of public-participation forms to have objections or comments around the matter lodged with the public participation Unit on hand at the meeting.

Chaos erupted at a community meeting on Wednesday 8 November as residents from far and near gathered to discuss the contentious issue of the relocation of nearly 5 200 land invaders currently occupying the Central Railway Line in Cape Town. 

Hundreds of residents from areas Philippi, Lansdowne, Mitchell’s Plain and surrounds were joined by members of political parties and organisations in an emotionally charged community meeting at the Rocklands Civic Centre. 

The meeting, chaired by ward 43 councillor and subcouncil 23 chair Elton Jansen, had to be adjourned following provocative statements from political parties, racial and derogatory slurs thrown and a myriad angry, off-kilter comments hurled from the audience. 

READ | ‘Move a recipe for conflict’

Residents were visibly irate and frustrated, although in agreement with Jansen’s own list of objections to the relocation. 

“Many are saying this is a done deal,” he said. “It is not a done deal. No-one can stop anyone from engaging another party. No-one can stop you from selling your property to anyone else.”

Hundreds of residents from areas Philippi, Lansdowne, Mitchell’s Plain and surrounds were joined by members of political parties and organisations in an emotionally charged community meeting at the Rocklands Civic Centre on Wednesday 8 November.

The row began during the question-and-answer session, opened for points of clarity, and saw the meeting shift towards its chaotic end.

Residents were visibly irate and frustrated, although in agreement with Jansen’s own list of objections to the relocation.

The meeting, chaired by ward 43 councillor and subcouncil 23 chair Elton Jansen, had to be adjourned following provocative statements from political parties, racial and derogatory slurs thrown and myriad angry, off-kilter comments hurled from the audience.

The meeting was called to assist, explain and promote completion of public-participation forms to have objections or comments around the matter lodged with the public participation Unit on hand at the meeting. 

This follows an official application by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) regarding the rezoning of two farms in the Philippi Wedge to relocate between 650 and 800 people currently occupying the Philippi area of the Central Line. This was a parcel of private land, officially sold to Prasa.

The row began during the question-and-answer session, opened for points of clarity, and saw the meeting shift towards its chaotic end.   

The relocation is in line with a court order, calling on Prasa to provide alternative accommodation for those illegally occupying the railway line, before they can be removed for rail services to be resumed.