PRASA CENTRAL LINE RELOCATION - PowerPoint Presentation

1. PRASA CENTRAL LINE RELOCATION PROGRAMMEStanding Committee on Public Accounts11 October 2023

2. Item 1: Report Back – 29 August 2023 SCOPA1.1. Report back on Key Outcomes – 29 August 2023Item 2: Funding Options (Land Acquisition)2.1. Phase 1: Langa Funding Status2.2. Phase 2: Philippi & Khayelitsha Funding Status2.3. Operation Bhekela2.4. IPSC ResolutionsItem 3: Outcomes of Stock Road Assessment3.1. Outcomes of Stock Road AssessmentOutline

3. Item 1: Report back from SCOPA – 29 August 2023

4. 1.1. Report back on Key Outcomes – 29 August 2023OutcomeReport BackAn agreement has been reached for the PRASA central line to be re-opened and for the informal settlement dwellers to be relocated through Operation Bhekela (a relocation initiative by PRASA), as a temporary measure while the process to acquire land unfolds.Implementation of Operation Bhekela ongoingAn urgent assessment of land, in line with Operation Bhekela, will be conducted to establish the suitability of land for resettlement of the affected informal settlement dwellers.Complete (13 September 2023) – Land suitable for temporal relocation. However, risk mitigation measures have to be implemented. NDHS to approach National Treasury and attach minutes of the meeting and dispute letters to demonstrate all efforts that have been made to resolve the matter of relocating the informal settlement dwellers occupying the PRASA railway line.Virement Request made by NDHS to National Treasury for the R50 Million for land acquisition - Request not supported by National Treasury (PRASA should capitalize the costs)Request for Dept. of Cooperative Governance to appoint a mediator to assist in resolving the impasse between the Department of Human Settlements, and the City of Cape Town on the acquisition of land for the relocation of the informal settlement dwellers currently occupying the PRASA railway central line.1st Inter-Governmental Meeting convened on 18 September 2023.Commitment to convene an Imbizo with the affected communities to engage on the long- and short-term solutions to resolve delays in relocationsStakeholder Engagement held on 11 September 2023

5. Item 2: Funding Options (Land Acquisition)

6. 2.1. Phase 1: Langa Funding StatusThe overall funding requirements for Phase 1 are estimated at R117 614 470,00 (excluding contingencies).To expedite and unlock the Programme; The HDA provided funding for the acquisition of the land R 12.7 million and needs to be reimbursed The statutory approval process for the development of the land is underway and is earmarked to conclude in March 2024Phase 1: Langa will only be funded through the 2024/2025 financial year budget allocationThe planned February 2025 relocation date is therefore due to:Outstanding conclusion of statutory processesUnavailability of funding in the 2023/24 financial year.

7. 2.2. Phase 2: Philippi & Khayelitsha Funding StatusThe immediate funding requirement of approximately R50 million for land acquisition to unlock Phase 2Currently, there is no means to secure immediate funding confirmation for Phase 2 land acquisition, the funding required is outside the standard government budgeting cycles The earliest the funding could be availed is through the 2023/24 adjustment budget process

8. 2.3. Operation BhekelaOperation Bhekela 1: Cape Town CBD to Langa, and Langa to NyangaOperation Bhekela 1, through the infilling of households located within the set buffer area has been completed.Limited rail services has resumed in July 2022 between Cape Town CBD to Langa, and Langa to NyangaOperation Bhekela 2: Nyanga to Philippi, and Philippi to Khayelitsha A total of 2648 households to be removed from the rail reserve to allow for limited rail service to resume. Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Operation Bhekela 2, which was the Infilling of approx. 1757 households has been completedPhase 3 of Operation Bhekela 2, which Is for the Temporal Relocation of approx. 891 households to Stock Road, is underwayRisk for Operation BhekelaOperation Bhekela is dependent on a clear Implementation Plan for the Overall/Long-Term Relocation Programme, especially confirmation of land required for Phase 2 (Philippi/Khayelitsha households' relocation)Preparation for Phase 3 of Operation Bhekela 2 is underway and is subject to finalization and outcomes of the Assessment Report, as per the outcomes of SCOPA.

9. 2.4. Resolutions taken by the IPSCIn order to:Reduce the risk occasioned by the implementation of Operation Bhekela 2,Allow the recovery of the Nyanga to Chris Hani and Nyanga to Kapteinsklip rail lines, Commence the recovery of limited rail services on the Nyanga to Chris Hani and Nyanga to Kapteinsklip rail lines, by Jan/Feb 2024,Allow the statutory process for Phase 2 relocation to commence in the 2023/24 financial year, andSupport PRASA in securing an extension of the November 2023 Eviction Court Order. The Implementation Protocol Steering Committee (Accounting Officers) has resolved that:PRASA provide R 62.7 million for the acquisition of the land for the PRASA Central Line Relocation Programme including:Reimbursing the HDA for the approximately R12.7 Million utilized for the acquisition of Farm 786 and Farm 790, for Phase 1 Relocation purposes,R50 Million estimated funding requirements for the acquisition of Phase 2 land for relocation purposesHDA and PRASA enter into a funding agreement for HDA to acquire land for the Relocation Programme,The acquired land parcels be transferred to the City of Cape Town for the implementation of the Long-Term Relocation Programme

10. Item 3: Outcomes of Stock Road Assessment

11. HDA, in line with the outcomes of the 29 August 2023 SCOPA meeting, has conducted an assessment on the identified, PRASA-owned, Stock Road Land, proposed for the use of temporal relocation of 891 households. The outcomes of the assessment can be summarized as follows:The identified portion of Stock Road is suitable for temporal relocation, subject to the following considerations - Safe access and building restrictions be developed by PRASA to ensure the safety of operations and households within the TRA.Physical or barrier preventing unlimited access along the boundaries of the railway reserve and the R300.No encroachment on the land under the electrical servitude to the east of the railway reserveInterim services must be provided according to the minimum norms and standards in the TRA developments (water, sanitation, etc.)Measures for a stormwater management system to prevent possible flooding.The findings are on the basis of temporal/short-term relocation while the long-term intervention is implemented. Any use of the site for long-term intervention and/or occupation should be subject to the applicable processes to ensure suitability for permanent use.  The proposed use of the site for temporal relocation purposes will require continued stakeholder engagement with interested and affected parties to ensure critical buy-in and support. 3.1. Outcomes of Stock Road Assessment

12. Enkosi,Thank You,Dankie.12