City of Cape Town concerned about the situation at iSiqalo Informal Settlement

Loyiso Langeni
07 March 2014

City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said they are concerned about the levels of hostility and violence that is brewing by the residents of Calorodo Park and Siqalo Informal Settlement, which has been a subject of a land grab last year. 

The protest action that have engaged have angered the community members and prevented being get to work and we have seen an incredible spike in crime in that road.

The city was called in Mayoral Committee and the mayor to face the community in Colorado Park.

Smith says the land where the Siqalo Informal Settlement is occupied is private land which means they are occupying the land illegally. 

Smith added that the problem is that the residents are now demanding services from the city which is not possible. 

Smith explains some of the interventions the city has come up with in this regard. We will put crush stones along the side of the road to prevent the vehicles entering and exiting the road illegally just causing a huge traffic exit as well as putting law enforcement program on that road on 24 hours a day basis to ensure that we are able to respond to crime.  We are also considering installing CCTV cameras in the area.