The City of Cape Town’s Urban Regeneration Department is currently conducting community workshops with residents and key stakeholders on possible public realm upgrades along Stock Road in Philippi East. The vision for the Stock Road Corridor is to improve ease and safety of movement for people and goods, both motorised and non-motorised, and to support economic activity on this stretch. A number of meetings have been held with various sectors of the Philippi East Community, with the latest being this past Saturday, 28 June 2025, at Beautiful Gate on Stock Road in Philippi. The workshops on 21 June and 28 June 2025 were focused on the heritage of Philippi and how it can be celebrated and incorporated in place making interventions along Stock Road.
‘The City’s Urban Regeneration team has been engaging with members of the community on how to make Stock Road better for all. Once we have a clearer understanding of what will work for the community and road users, we can then proceed with planning, costing and the implementation of capital infrastructure to make the proposed concept a reality,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment. Alderman Andrews.
Previous community workshop engagements on the Stock Road public realm upgrade were attended by business representatives, taxi operators, traders and various residents and community group representatives. The primary concerns that were raised on Stock Road were congestion and limited parking, stormwater challenges, constant infrastructure vandalism, illegal dumping, scrap metal processing, unorganised Informal trading on sidewalks and crime.
The last two workshops, held on 21 June and 28 June 2025, were focused on the heritage and culture of Philippi and how it can be celebrated and incorporated in place making interventions along Stock Road. These workshops were attended by community elders from the Klipfontein Mission, members of the Uncedo Women’s Project as well as young artists from the Philippi Arts Centre and Siyasindisa Theatre Work, among others. These Heritage and Culture focused workshops have taken place at a pivotal time in the History of Philippi; this year (2025) marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Old Crossroads in Philippi, which was established during a time where people classified as black African were fighting for their right to live and work in Cape Town.
‘Stock Road is a direct route into Philippi off the R300, and it is heavily trafficked. There is public transport, trucks and pedestrians, all trying to get to their destinations. Our Urban Regeneration Department is working on plans to create an environment that is more dignified, safe and accommodating for all; where we can have safer walking spaces, easier traffic flow, parking spaces, better organised trading spaces, landscaping, public art and greening, and the enhancement of community spaces. The addition of a ‘Welcome’ sign in Philippi East has also been suggested by the community. There is a lot that can be done, but it all begins with engaging with the people who actually live and work there and use the road on a daily basis,’ said Alderman Andrews.
Further investigations, reviewing of previous studies and desktop research will feed into concept proposals towards the capital implementation and costing for the Stock Road public realm upgrades that will be rolled out in phases over a period of time.
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Fun South African Fact: South Africa is known as the “Rainbow Nation” thanks to its mix of cultures across the country. The status of being a cultural “melting pot” is evident in the fact that South Africa has a whopping 11 official languages: English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, IsiNdebele, Sesotho, Northern Sotho, Setswana, SiSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga. Most South Africans speak more than one national language. IsiZulu is the most common first language and isiXhosa is second. Fun fact – did you know the people of Wakanda speak isiXhosa in Marvel’s Black Panther movie?