More than 400 people have signed a petition against the proposed removal of several public artworks in the Strandfontein area.
Earlier this month, the City of Cape Town initiated a public participation process following complaints of antisocial behaviour around statues throughout the area.
The City’s Mayco member for corporate services, Theresa Uys says the process began following a complaint received by Sub-council 17 from residents with properties adjacent to where the statues are located. “The complaints were related to noise and people making use of drugs and alcohol at the location of these statues, especially over weekends,” she says.
“The survey focused on the Turtle, Tooth, Bench, Tongue and JR’s hat statues.”
Sandy Schuter, Community Policing Forum (CPF) chair, confirms they were contacted by a representative of the City regarding this public participation process on Wednesday 8 March.
“Everyone that was born in Strandfontein, or grew up here, has a fond memory of the various monuments.
At that time, there were no parks and this was the outdoor entertainment many had,” she says.
“There is no need to remove the monuments. We patrol the streets of Strandfontein very regularly and never has there been any safety issues at the various monuments, however we don’t want to water down the concerns of the person that initially reported activity at the one monument.”
Uys says the public participation unit conducted a survey at the properties adjacent to the statues on the weekend of 11 March to determine if the residents would like the statues to be removed or not.
The CPF has since drafted the petition.
“The City has engaged with the Strandfontein CPF and their concerns were addressed in a meeting,” says Uys.
“We have nothing already and I know that nothing else will be placed there. If, the same community has been begging for recreational space for our kids, there is always a budget attached and reasons why it cannot be done,” says Schuter. “These monuments are part of Strandfontein, so the city will have to fight an entire community to have it thrown down.”
The exact origin of these statues is unknown, as it was not commissioned by the City of Cape Town, but rather a private developer.
Schuter says they fear it will be removed and not replaced by anything else.
When asked about possible replacement and if so, what would replace these monuments, the City did not respond.
The public participation process concludes this week, before a final decision is made.
“Majority of the residents were not happy about this, many said that, instead of complaining, why not engage the neighbour’s and claim back the spaces that’s been possibly used for whatever unsavoury things, people will only take over when we as residents do nothing.
“The CPF has been inviting the community forthe entire year and we still continue to encourage residents to call us to help them establish street committees, so residents can start owning their parks and other open spaces,” says Schuter.
Schuter says she is in possession of hard copy forms for public comment, which were not distributed to residents.
She further urges residents to take back their streets and form or join a safety structure.
“Residents are welcome to make contact with the Strandfontein CPF to establish a street committee in their street, also they can contact me for the forms on 071 947 8294,” she says.
- Residents who wish to comment can still do so until Friday 31 March.
- Survey forms are also available at Subcouncil 17 offices in Lentegeur or residents can email the Subcouncil manager, Goodman Rorwana at GoodmanLulamile.Rorwana@capetown.gov.za or Anathi.dywili@capetown.gov.za to request a form.
