Breede Valley

RSEP Focus Area:

The neighbourhoods of Zwelethemba, Avian Park, Riverview and Roodewal

Background:

Worcester is a low density, sprawling town with multiple neighbourhoods that are isolated and/or located far from the CBD. Pockets of vacant land and open spaces act as barriers between neighbourhoods, which become targeted spaces for crime. These neighbourhoods also have a lack of pedestrian access, social and recreation facilities. 

The municipality focused on implementing 59 small scale and 1 large scale project across the RSEP focus areas between 2014 and 2019. The projects implemented sought to provide safer pedestrian walkways, social, sport and recreation facilities in areas previously lacking these types of facilities. Some of the small-scale projects include community centres, 5-a-side soccer fields and netball courts, braai facilities, jungle gyms and lighting.

Breede Valley Municipality have also made funds available on their budget for operations and maintenance of the facilities, which have all positively impacted on the lives of the communities.

Worcester Reconstruction Framework

Featured Project:

The Zwelethemba Corridor project was completed in 2019 and included landscaping of Mtwazi street with safe cycle walkways, lighting, plants and trees, spaces for traders, a formal business site including informal trading areas and sport fields and ancillary recreation facilities. 

RSEP focus area:

The neighbourhoods on Steenvliet, Topkamp and Touwsrivier CBD

Background:

Touwsrivier, although situated along the N1, it has a low growth potential with high socio-economic needs. The town was historically a major railway centre but such activities have subsequently been reduced, resulting in the closure of local businesses and increasing levels of unemployment, and social problems.

The RSEP Programme has held discussions with Knowledge Pele Corporate Social Investment (CSI) unit/institution responsible for the social upliftment responsibility of the local Solar Plant. The RSEP Programme Office also liaised with the Department of Transport and Public Works with regards to the economic and re-developmental challenges in Touwsrivier, one of which is the vacant high school building along the main road into the town. These discussions are still in progress. The RSEP PO has also conducted various economic workshops and drafted an ‘economic strategy’ to assist the municipality in identifying areas of economic opportunity and growth for the town. The above-mentioned efforts demonstrate the potential that can be achieved in terms of crowding-in relevant stakeholders.

Various infrastructure type projects have been implemented in Touwsrivier such as traffic calming measures, upgrading of existing parks, lighting in dark alleys, a recreation facility in the form of braai facilities adjacent to the only municipal swimming pool in town.

Touwsrivier Reconstruction Framework

Featured project:

The lower income areas in Touwsrivier are cut off from the CBD by a natural floodplain which the community, including young children need to cross each day. A pedestrian bridge and pedestrian walkway were constructed which safely connects the community to the CBD, the clinic, swimming pool and other recreation facilities. The project was completed in 2019.