Pelican Park residents call for urgent action on service delivery and safety issues

The Pelican Park Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (PPRRA) has submitted an urgent appeal to mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and other City of Cape Town officials, requesting intervention in what residents describe as longstanding service-delivery and infrastructure failures in the community.

Although Pelican Park was established more than 40 years ago, residents say the area continues to receive unequal access to facilities and municipal maintenance compared with surrounding neighbourhoods. In its submission, the PPRRA outlined several priority concerns.

A major request is for the development of the field next to the Pelican Park Community Hall into a formal soccer and recreation facility. The proposal includes perimeter fencing, parking for 150 to 200 vehicles to relieve congestion at the nearby mosque on Fridays, wooden stands on the eastern side, and a sports academy with ablution facilities.

PPRRA chairperson Ishmael David said the facility would support multiple community sports clubs and create youth-development opportunities.

However, the City said the site is reserved for housing.

City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said: “The land in question forms part of the project site for the City’s Pelican Park Phase 2 Housing Project, which is currently in the planning phase. Construction can only commence once all planning processes have been completed. At this stage, it is estimated that the project will provide approximately 1 700 Breaking New Ground (BNG) and FLISP/GAP housing opportunities to qualifying beneficiaries.

He said residents have been advised to use the Pelican Park Community Hall and sports field in Pelican Heights for recreation purposes.

Mr Davids said residents are also asking for a two-meter-wide pedestrian pathway between Dabchick Road and Francolin Road, with lighting installed for safety.

“Residents would like Coot Road field to be cleared and upgraded for indoor soccer and netball to provide inclusive recreational facilities for young men and women,” he said.

However, mayoral committee member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas, said: “The City does not have plans to construct a walkway in the mentioned vicinity. It does not meet the requirements of a priority area at this stage and crosses various zoned parcels of land.”

He added that the Recreation and Parks Department also has no plans to upgrade the Coot Road facility and encouraged residents to submit proposals through their ward councillor or subcouncil office.

Regarding lighting, the City's mayoral committee member for energy, Xanthea Limberg, said: “The lighting of the proposed pathway can form part of the pathway construction. Lighting can’t be installed for a pathway that has not yet been created. The design should include dedicated lighting, which would be approved via the normal public lighting process.”

Residents also raised concerns over what they describe as unequal implementation of traffic-calming measures within Ward 67. While New Horizons recently received traffic humps, the same requests for Peacock Close have been denied.

Mr Quintas said: “Pearl Street is a local access road serving a relatively closed residential environment. The geometry does not lend itself to excessive speeding, and there are sidewalks on both sides, rendering it a relatively safe pedestrian environment. The road is not highlighted on our crash bureau as hazardous," he said, adding that the City has identified a developed play park on the bend, which may attract some vulnerable pedestrian activity.

Therefore, he said, the City will support the implementation of two speed humps, one on each approach to the play park.

"As this is not an educational facility, the City’s Traffic Calming Policy makes provision for the budget to be sourced privately or via the ward allocation.”

Service-delivery delays also form part of the appeal. Residents reported a fire-hydrant leak at Barbet and Coot Roads on November 24 that was repaired only two weeks later, while a second hydrant outside 31 Barbet Road has since begun leaking. Water outages occurred during repairs, and residents say they were not notified in advance.

The City mayoral committee member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, the water and sanitation department acknowledge delays in repairs.

He said following the assessment, the hydrant required a specialised steel offset and a tee piece, as these were severely corroded.

"Repairs commenced as soon as the necessary components became available. These works required on-site welding and have since been completed, ensuring the hydrant is fully functional and compliant with operational standards. Water supply disruptions are unfortunately required to undertake any repairs to prevent further loss and damage.”

The PPRRA also raised concerns about the unpaved walkway outside Pelican Park Primary School, which becomes muddy and waterlogged in winter, forcing children to walk on the road during peak traffic times. Residents were expecting the City to build a paved walkway by June this year.

Mr Quintas said the City has included the implementation of sidewalks around the school property for the 2026/27 financial year period. Details regarding this project will be shared closer to the commencement date.

A further long-standing concern concerns Barbet Hill, at the entrance to Pelican Park. The site has become a dumping and sand-digging hotspot despite complaints dating back to 2016. The PPRRA wants the City to fence the area and clarify its long-term management plan.

In response, the City said: “The Recreation and Parks Department is aware of the illegal dumping concern at the entrance of the Pelican Park and has scheduled a meeting with the City’s Solid Waste Department to discuss a way forward in order to mitigate the issue.”