City clears hundreds of hectares of bush on vacant plots

By Khanyisa Tabata
26 January 2010

The City of Cape Town has cleared overgrown bushes, building rubble and household dumping from 44 vacant plots owned by the Housing Directorate

Mayoral Committee Member for Housing Councillor Shehaam Sims says the cleared land is spread across Atlantis, Athlone, Belhar, Blackheath, Blue Downs, Delft, , Grassy Park, Kalkfontein, Kuils River, Langa, Lwandle, Mamre, Mfuleni and Mitchells Plain.

“These plots are mainly situated in the poorer areas of Cape Town, where alien vegetation can easily take over, posing a health, fire or safety risk for local communities.

“Overgrown spaces also provide hideouts for criminals and become convenient dumping spots for building rubble and household litter”, said Mayoral Committee Member for Housing Councillor Shehaam Sims,

The Housing Directorate launched the bush clearing programme with City Parks in July 2007. This has resulted in hundreds of hectares of dense bush being cut down and removed from problem areas.