Cape Town's land battle: Voices rise at Harrington Square hearings
Harrington Square.
Image: The Central City Improvement District (CCID)
The first round of questions at the Harrington Square public hearings focused on longstanding concerns around land, restitution, and Cape Town’s housing crisis.
For some attendees, the discussion on April 21 extended beyond the future of a parking site to broader issues of historical redress.
As proceedings continued, the scope widened to include questions about land use, past dispossession, and who benefits from development in the city.
Joscelyn Beukes, who claimed to be a great-grandchild of a family that was removed in District 6, grounded the discussion in lived experience.
“I have moved to the city because I am one of the occupiers challenging the City of Cape Town. There are many more opportunities for us since we have been here in the city. Our children have better opportunities with regard to schools, and unemployed people have been able to find jobs,” she said.
Beukes further questioned how the City plans to address restitution and return what was taken from them, emphasising that their losses, including livelihoods, have already been proven.
Jeanette Valencia, who said she works in the area, questioned whether the outcome had already been decided.
She said parking supports business activity and, in turn, contributes to a stronger local economy and that many underused parking areas across the City of Cape Town are not being managed effectively.
City officials at the public meeting explained that the site is not intended for restitution or housing, noting that other areas in District 6 have already been designated for that purpose under the Economic and Spatial Development Framework (ESDF).
Instead, the land is planned as public open space - more of a flexible urban space than a traditional park, said a city official.
“We have to acknowledge that the use of public space is very important for those returning to District 6, those coming into the area, as well as the CBD, which is increasing in intensity of use," he said.
The City official said with growing intensity, the CBD also needed well-functioning urban spaces, and Harrington Square has been identified as an urban place rather than strictly a park, though its final form will depend on agreement.
The officials stated that there will be a workshop on May 9, to discuss public input and another session in June where the scope of the project will be shared.
The City said the renewal of Harrington Square and surrounds is one of the City’s key priorities, with the intention to make this space multi-functional, more accessible, safer, and inviting to the public while optimising the parking area for clients visiting the local businesses.