Proposed Site Design

The City of Cape Town initially proposed a site that is approximately 1,8 hectares in size. The application for the land can be seen in COCT Appendix I. With the size and usage of Langa in mind, Social Development management agreed that the 1,8 hectare site that had been requested by the department was grossly inadequate for the projected use of the site. Concerns were also voiced about the construction of the concrete-palisade fence along the steep grade that is located off of Spine Road. Large amounts of fill will be needed to ensure that a level fence may be constructed that provides adequate screening for the initiates.

There were approximately 50 huts visible in late November, not yet halfway through the initiation season.  Estimated totals will exceed 120 initiates per season, or 240 initiates per year for the Good Hope College Initiation Site. Estimated totals could not be calculated for the other two informal initiation sites in Khayelitsha, but it is known that these are also being used this initiation season.  It can be assumed that some initiates from other sections of Khayelitsha will travel to the Good Hope College Initiation Site once it is formalized, as is the situation at the Langa Initiation Site, where males come from across the Western Cape, and from as far away as the Eastern Cape, to complete their initiation.

Location of Huts in the Khayelitsha Site

Using the Langa site as a model and considering the population of Khayelitsha, the topography of the proposed site and the observed distribution of initiation huts during the current initiation season, a site of approximately 8,2 hectares was deemed an appropriate size for the Good Hope College Initiation Site.

The site’s perimeter will be enclosed by a fence that will run along Spine Road and Mew Way and connect to part of an existing fence owned by Denel. The team requested that the road reserve be reduced from 20 meters to 10 meters in order to increase the area of the terrain while reducing the amount of fill that is necessary to eliminate the steep grade along Spine Road for the construction of the fence on the southern border.

A site map of the proposed area is below:

Proposed layout for the formalization of the Good Hope College initiation site

There are several benefits to choosing this site, both from a topographical and financial standpoint.   The plot of land recommended for enclosure encompasses a valley and hills that initiates can use for screening. As seen in November 2010 initiates set up their huts in the valley during summer season because the walls of the valley provide screening and seclusion.  Likewise, the hills provide the initiates with dry ground during the wet season, helping to prevent diseases and infection.  By enclosing the small hill located in the western region of the proposed site that provides a view over the site, the privacy of initiates will be further increased. It is important to include the hill inside the site fence to maintain this privacy. Money will be saved by merging the fences that will be installed by the City of Cape Town on the northern and southern site borders with the Denel fence that currently exists on the west side of the proposed site.  City officials do not anticipate that permission will need to be granted from Denel to build up to their fence.

Given that a portion of the proposed site is controlled by Denel, it is proposed that the development of the site be undertaken in two phases.  Phase I will incorporate 3,8 hectares of city-owned land, during which time the City will negotiate the acquisition or lease of the Denel-controlled land with the National Department of Public Works.

Phase II could commence once the Department of Social Development has acquired rights to the additional 4,4 hectares of adjoining land.  This proposal will be comprised of the Denel-owned parcel in addition to 0,64 hectares of city-owned land.  The disposal of the Denel-owned land to the City is a distinct possibility, given that its topography renders it unsuitable for most commercial uses and given the State’s support for initiation initiatives.

Land Ownership Distribution of the Good Hope College Initiation Site

Maps showing the development of both phases are shown below. The complete reservation of City land applications are found in COCT Appendix L.

Phase I

Phase II