R9 Million Spent to Fight Tafelberg Spatial Justice

Over the past decade, the Western Cape Government has spent more than R9 million in public funds on the Tafelberg site, now rebranded as “353-on-Main.” Of this, R7.5 million was spent fighting litigation brought by civil society organisations demanding that the site be used for affordable housing. A further R1.6 million was spent on consulting fees. This was revealed by MEC for Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers in a response to written questions submitted by GOOD. These millions were not spent building homes or creating opportunities. They were spent resisting progress.

The Tafelberg site represents a unique opportunity to begin undoing the apartheid spatial planning that continues to define Cape Town. And yet, for over a decade, the DA-led provincial government has chosen to spend public money defending its indefensible attempt to sell off well-located public land rather than using it to house people.

After multiple feasibility studies and court battles, the Western Cape Government is finally entertaining plans for mixed-use development with some social housing. But this tentative progress comes at an enormous financial and moral cost. Imagine how many homes could have been built. Imagine how many families could have gained access to schools, jobs, transport and safety, if this R9 million had been invested in building a just and inclusive city instead of defending outdated and exclusionary planning.

The name change to “353-on-Main” may suggest a government eager to move past the shame of its decisions.

But the facts remain:

• The site was declared surplus to needs, then withdrawn.
• It was sold to a private school, then reversed.
• Multiple feasibility studies have been conducted, and now another one is underway.
• Millions have been spent, and not a single home has been built.

This is not policy failure but a political choice to preserve privilege over progress.
We call on the Western Cape Government to stop wasting public funds on delay tactics, to finalise the development brief, and to maximise the number of social and affordable housing units on this well-located public land.