'Development could improve safety', says councillor

Mr Fisher said the property was advertised in the Cape Times and Die Burger and not in the local community newspapers; that notices were not sent to the adjacent neighbours but to people outside of Westridge; and the signage for the auction pointed at another property.

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He said they were alerted to the sale in 2020, during the national Covid-19 lockdown, and had been helped with raising objections to the development by then-councillor for Ward 78, Eddie Andrews.

The residents successfully reduced the number of units from 18 to 12.

“The second batch of objections were sent, the City went quiet until the 26th of April, 2025, when the landowner came to erect poles for the site. The community managed to stop the process,” he said.

Mr Fisher said the number of units proposed would create congestion and obstruct vehicles from entering and exiting the fire station and the busy Dagbreek Avenue. He said that at the price the land was sold, residents could have had the option to buy.

Shernelle Louw argued that assessments were not conducted properly as the City sold the area’s only remaining green space.

“The impact on our sewer system, as planned, was only passed for six of the 12 houses due to the City’s sewer department having issues with the infrastructure. The light and view of the new development will take away from the existing houses as they plan on erecting a new building metres from their windows,” she said.