- The City of Cape Town says that, although it endorses the removal of a notorious footbridge in Zeekoevlei, permission has not yet been granted.
- The bridge, located in Dabchick Road, has been an alleged crime hotspot for years, prompting residents to petition the City in 2021 for its removal.
- In a recent shooting incident on 6 January, two people were shot, one of whom was killed.
The City of Cape Town says that, although it endorses the removal of a notorious footbridge in Zeekoevlei, permission has not yet been granted.
The bridge, located in Dabchick Road, has been an alleged crime hotspot for years, prompting residents to petition the City in 2021 for its removal.
In a recent shooting incident on 6 January, two people were shot, one of whom was killed.
READ | Residents’ worst fear comes true as two are gunned down in ‘gang’ shooting in Zeekoevlei
According to resident Rustum Mally, after various meetings with the City the matter had still not been resolved.
“The bridge is the perfect place to get in or out of the area because no cars can access it from there.
“We cannot fathom how the City expects residents to remove a bridge it had put up. The maintenance and upkeep are for the City, so how can it expect us to remove the bridge?
“We want to have the footbridge removed and the area fenced off on one side of the river.
Mally, who was eating lunch with his wife and children on Saturday, heard the fateful gunshots that claimed a man’s life.
“It was too loud to be fireworks or a car that backfires.
“Before that there was swearing and then a minute later three shots rang out. When I opened my gate the guy was lying in front of my house in the middle of the road.”
Grassy Park police spokesperson Capt Wynita Kleinsmith confirmed a case of murder was opened.
An attempted murder case was also opened on Saturday 6 January.
“A male victim was shot in the back and died at the scene. A woman was shot in the arm and a third person, who was with them, was not injured.
“The deceased and victim are affiliated to the Six Bob gang, and the incident is believed to be gang related.”
READ | ‘Notorious bridge’ to go
According to Mally, since the incident residents are too afraid to walk to shops and children are kept indoors.
“Our fears, that someone would be killed, became a reality.
“People don’t walk to shops anymore and parents are not allowing their kids to play in the street.
“My neighbour’s son was robbed at gunpoint at the bridge and another neighbour was robbed as he was waiting for transport at 06:00 in the morning.”
The concerned father said all residents want is to have the footbridge removed as crime had increased because of the bridge as well as a vacant property in the same street.
“The City worries about petty things; if one paints a mural on one’s wall one is fined, and police are sent to one’s house at taxpayers’ expense to remove it, even though a painting has never killed anyone.
“Does it want 10 murders to take place before doing anything about this bridge?”
READ | Unwelcome hub at vlei footbridge
Mally explained residents were simply not able to remove the bridge as it is too expensive.
“As residents we are not going to use our cash-strapped pockets to remove the bridge as it is an expensive undertaking and a permit is required. Why can’t the City remove the bridge? I don’t know what more it could possibly need!
“Its slogan is ‘This City works for you’, but unfortunately it is not working for us.”
Mayco member for urban mobility Rob Quintas said while the City supported the removal of the bridge, permission had yet to be granted.
“The City’s Roads and Infrastructure Management (RIM) Department supports the removal of the bridge as no roads and stormwater services will be affected. However, there is a process that needs to be followed in order to effect this removal.
“The bridge removal will have to undergo a public participation process. Final comments will feed into this process as well as any additional conditions.”
READ | Residents want footbridge removed
Quintas adds that public participation should have been undertaken in 2022, but it appears to not have been carried out.
“The removal of the bridge, without a public participation process, prevents others from raising their concerns which violates their constitutional rights.”
Questioned on whether removal of the bridge would be for residents’ account, Quintas commented that costs would be established once removal of the bridge has been approved.
“The bridge is a capital asset, the City Manager must approve the public participation process for the disposal (removal) of the bridge.
“However, council will still also have to approve the removal after considering the outcome of the public participation process. It is at this stage where it will be established as to who bears the costs for the removal.”
Anyone with information on the shooting incident can contact the Grassy Park Police serious and violent crime unit on 082 302 3776.
