Bitou

RSEP Focus Area:

The neighbourhoods of New Horizons, Qolweni and Kwanokuthula

Background:

Lower income communities of Kwanokhutula, New Horizons and Qolweni have to travel long distances to access retail, commercial and government facilities in the Plettenberg Bay CBD. When the reconstruction workshop was held with municipal officials it was noted that the framework toolkit aligns directly with the 15 year long Bitou Coming Together Project which has sought to move government services closer to where marginalized areas are located i.e. the new magistrates court, traffic centre and library.

While many projects were originally put forward with the municipality, it was determined through specific engagement with the relevant communities that these were not what they wanted. A public square was instead proposed in front of the New Horizons community hall and the RSEP Programme subsequently drafted several designs which were iteratively workshopped with the community over the course of 2019. The site is also located near a taxi rank and primary school. The design includes an amphitheatre, play and seating areas, terrace seating, safe lighting, a 10-thousand-liter rainwater tank and permeable paving. The project coincides with upgrading of the roof of the community hallf.

The second project that RSEP will be funding is the Qolweni Cultural Village which has also received co-funding from 4 mining and quarrying companies. The cultural village has been long awaited by the Qolweni residents.

Plettenberg Bay Reconstruction Framework

Featured Project:

The design for the New Horizons public square includes an amphitheatre, play and seating areas, terrace seating, safe lighting, a 10-thousand-liter rainwater tank and permeable paving. This project also coincides with upgrading of the roof of the community hall.

Bitou New Horizons Public Square Design 2019

Bitou New Horizons Public Square Design 2019