Construction underway amid relocation controversy

Construction is underway at Ghost Town informal settlement in Maitland to construct over 100 households with an Alternative Building Technologies (ABT) development with one-on-one serviced plots.

- KAYLYNNE BANTOM

The construction will also see the relocation of over 40 people from Salt River to the informal settlement which is based at Gate 1 at Maitland Cemetery ("Relocation plans slammed", People’s Post, 17 June 2025)

But this move has residents furious, accusing the City of Cape Town of not being transparent stating that they were not consulted over the relocation.

Cheslyn Steenberg, Ward 56 councillor, said: “The community is against the relocation, and I support that. My initial support for that development was solely based on services, however, the City of Cape Town has hijacked the vulnerability of that situation to bring in the people of Salt River.

“We don’t agree with the people moving here but we do agree that services are needed for the residents of Ghost Town. They have lived for years with communal services.”

Steenberg said residents are also concerned about how the move will impact crime, and other social ills.

“That site will remain Ghost Town whether there's alternative building infrastructure or not. We need people to move into decent and formal homes.”