The chairperson of the City of Cape Town’s Human Settlements Portfolio Committee, Councillor Albert Ntsodo, joined officials from the Human Settlements Directorate on an oversight visit to the Philippi Monwood informal settlement to assess progress on the area’s upgrade project.
Monwood, home to more than 2,400 households from the Siyahlala and Siyanyanzela communities, is undergoing a phased, incremental upgrade designed to install essential infrastructure and improve access within the settlement. The City, as the landowner, initiated the project to provide residents with safer, more dignified living conditions.
“The visit was an opportunity for us to see the progress being made and to reaffirm our commitment to keeping residents informed,” said Councillor Ntsodo. “This project is about improving living conditions by providing safer and more accessible services.”
He noted that vandalism of infrastructure has slowed progress and appealed to residents to help protect community assets. “Vandalism damages our progress, wastes valuable resources, and delays much-needed improvements. We urge residents to work with us to ensure the long-term success of this project,” he added.
Councillor Ntsodo expressed gratitude to residents for their cooperation and reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to engagement throughout the process. “We will continue to communicate with residents and ensure that communities remain central to the success of the Monwood upgrade,” he said.
