The Big Bay Master Property Owners Association (BBMPOA), together with the Blaauwberg Spatial Association (BSA) have put security measures in place at Happy Valley opposite the Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital in Sunningdale to mitigate the threat of land invasion.
“There are real risks of a land invasion, so security measures have been put in place,” the BBMPOA says in a recent statement.
Happy Valley, a 277-hectare vacant piece of land owned by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, has made headlines in the past with numerous petitions signed by residents demanding that the municipality and the national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, which owns the site, clear the squatters from the land. However, the Happy Valley squatters have vowed to stay put.
They claim Public Works and City officials who visited them in 1994 said they would benefit from future housing planned for the site.
The BBMOA says in a statement sitting under the BSA, a separate work group is constantly overseeing the security of the Spatial Development Framework project area, whilst the Big Bay community driven planning initiative is ongoing.
Objectives
The objectives of the Blaauwberg Spatial Security Committee (BSSC) are to:
- Oversee the security of the area.
- Mitigate the threats and prevent a land invasion, through increased monitoring.
- Lay foundations for the future security of the area.
“Some of the work completed so far includes building a partnership with the landowner and their appointed security contractor, geo-locating and mapping of all illegal structures on site (62), enhanced monitoring, installation of security cameras, 24/7 off-site monitoring and the introduction of an emergency response plan. All these measures have been funded through local community contributions to the BSA,” the BBMPOA says.
RF1117 on-site appointed security (supported by BBMPOA security providers and maintenance staff) have recently taken down a number of illegal structures on behalf of the landowner. The site was also cleared of all rubbish and debris.
“New structures are identified, through enhanced monitoring and security patrols. When identified, they are immediately dismantled and the occupants are moved on. The monitoring is an ongoing process to keep the area secure.”
- Visit the BSA website, https://blaauwbergsa.co.za/ for more information on how to become a member and make a contribution.
