Academics call on CoCT to allow occupants of old Woodstock Hospital to assist in redevelopment process
The city plans to redevelop the former hospital, which houses 850 occupants, to accommodate 500 social housing units.
The old Woodstock Hospital in Cape Town also known as Cissie Gool house. Picture: Kaylynn Palm/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Academics are calling on the City of Cape Town (CoCT) to allow occupants of the old Woodstock Hospital to assist in redeveloping the site.
The city plans to redevelop the former hospital, which houses 850 occupants, to accommodate 500 social housing units.
A group of academics are questioning the city plans, saying the site can be developed without displacing its occupants.
Academics are calling on the city to pursue a development without displacement approach that centres on co-production and co-design for the old Woodstock Hospital.
The site was renamed Cissie Gool house by its residents who illegally occupied the building in 2017.
Senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town (UCT), Dr Suraya Scheba, handed the city a submission as part of its public participation process, which has garnered support from more than 100 academics from across the world.
"Residents of Cissie Gool have already been engaging in a co-design process to advance an inclusive housing model for the site. This process should be supported by the city."
Mayco Member for Human Settlements, Carl Pophaim, said the city would stick to its policies.
"Beneficiaries of all housing developments by the city are done in accordance with the allocation policy and the registration in our housing needs register. This is to ensure that opportunities are provided to qualifying applicants in a fair, transparent and equitable manner."
Pophaim said a public engagement process related to the redevelopment of the site was underway.