While a protest briefly delayed the live and virtual auction of 44 City sites, the sales of the properties went ahead at the DHL Stadium’s business lounge on Wednesday afternoon.
Included in the 44-site catalogue were five heritage sites located in Vredehoek, Maitland, Woodstock, Constantia and Gardens.
The Constantia heritage site, located on Klein Constantia Road, sold for R3.9 million.
Meanwhile, two Constantia sites located at 2 and 5 Aloe Lane, sold for R6.25m and R4.5m respectively.
The Civic Association of Rondebosch East (Care) wrote an open letter to the City and mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis calling on them to withdraw the auction until a lasting solution for equitable land distribution in Cape Town is formulated.
Care chairperson, Rashard Davids, said it was a “sad day for democracy”.
“It is equally sad that we are talking about an inclusive city and transparent city that ‘works for you’. We have constantly asked for a public participation process but we have not even received an acknowledgment or a response from the City to our letter. They have sites in Constantia that is subject to land claim restitution from the indigenous people and nowhere did they once think about making one piece of land available for social housing.
“They are making so many millions from this. This is the path that the City follows of ‘you stay on your area and we stay in our area... we are not against the sale but rather to have everybody participate in it and to see how best we can use the land taking into account the historical injustices,” said Davids.
Before bidding could get under way on Wednesday afternoon, auctioneer Stef Olivier announced the auction would be delayed by 10 minutes due to protesting outside the building.
The protesting group had grown larger by the end of the auction, resulting in bidders having to use a different exit for security reasons.
In attendance at the protest, Khoisan leader and human rights activist, Tauriq Jenkins said the City selling land which included heritage sites “is indicative of how the City is using land which belongs to its citizens in a way that tailors to realistic demands”.
“This is a very careless way of dispensing land but also callous...This is an insult to the integrity of the affected communities. There should be a moratorium placed on the City selling properties in affluent areas without having meaningful participation processes,” said Jenkins.
Mayco member for economic growth, James Vos, said the auction was delayed but went well.
“The auction went well today and the City thanks the private sector for participating. Now due legislative processes will need to be followed to finalise the results,” said Vos.
Vos told the “Cape Times” the properties were “surplus to the City’s needs” and the “money generated will be reinvested into service delivery”.
City Law Enforcement spokesperson, Wayne Dyason said: “SAPS, City Law Enforcement and metro police departments were on scene to assist.”
Cape Times