Silent demonstration highlights Bergvliet residents' fears over new Tokai High School
Bergvliet residents, along with members of the Bergvliet Voluntary Association, held a silent placard demonstration outside the municipal offices in Constantia.
Image: Wesley Ford
Residents of Bergvliet, together with members of the Bergvliet Voluntary Association (BVA), recently staged a silent placard demonstration raising concerns about the proposed development of a new Tokai High School in their community.
Around 40 residents gathered outside municipal offices in Constantia, where a subcouncil meeting was taking place.
The proposed school, planned by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), is earmarked for a 3.8-hectare site on Ruskin Road in Bergvliet. The project, estimated to cost more than R125 million, would accommodate over 1100 learners and include about 30 classrooms, a sports field, and a school hall. It forms part of the department’s rapid school infrastructure programme.
Concerns about the development were raised last year, when residents raised objections, particularly during the public participation process linked to the project’s Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA).
In a statement, the BVA said the scale of the proposed high-capacity, limited-subject secondary school could significantly affect the character of the residential area.
The association warned of increased traffic congestion during peak hours, heightened pedestrian safety risks, additional pressure on already constrained infrastructure, and potential environmental impacts.
The BVA emphasised that it is not opposed to development or education, but believes the current proposal is unsuitable for the site. As an alternative, the association suggested that the property could be used for an early childhood and foundation phase education centre serving the broader Bergvliet area.
Another proposal includes a smaller, community-focused high school aimed at local pupils, which they say would ease pressure on nearby schools without generating large volumes of traffic.
The BVA also expressed disappointment over what it described as a "lack of consistent communication" from local and provincial leadership, including Ward 73 councillor Eddie Andrews, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, and premier Alan Winde.
Andrews did meet with some of the BVA members at the silent demonstration and acknowledged residents’ concerns.
"It is important to acknowledge what is happening, which is for further engagement regarding the proposed site for the Tokai High School," he said.
He encouraged open communication and cautioned against the spread of misinformation, noting that it can create unnecessary anxiety within the community.
From left are Bergvliet residents, Ingrid van den Berg, Liezel Matthee, Frank Allewell, and Maria Randall, who came to the silent demonstration.
Image: Wesley Ford
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the project remains in the planning phase, with ongoing engagements between the department and the City of Cape Town. She confirmed that no final decisions have been made and that there will be further opportunities for public engagement as the project progresses.
Hammond said that the department is aware of concerns related to urban planning and will comply with all municipal requirements concerning heritage, traffic, and environmental considerations.
The location at Ruskin Road, Bergvliet, is where the Western Cape Education Department made proposed plans for a new school.
Image: Wesley Ford
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