Community backlash against proposed City Improvement District in Edgemead
A growing wave of opposition is building in Edgemead, where residents and business owners are rejecting the proposed establishment of a City Improvement District (CID).
Many say the process lacks legitimacy, while others warn the initiative is both unnecessary and financially crippling for ordinary households already struggling with the rising cost of living.
The resistance is being coordinated through the community-led Facebook group STOP Edgemead CID, which has rapidly gained momentum. It has also been bolstered by insights from Councillor Karl Bodin (CAPEXIT), who has raised concerns about the proposal’s transparency.
For many, the biggest worry is the financial burden the CID would impose.
Edgemead resident and STOP ECID member, Kirsten Fernandes, said: “It is baffling that a flawed process with so little actual input from property owners could evolve into a multi-million-rand business plan that claims to represent our priorities.
“The notable lack of interest and participation at the outset should have ended this proposal at the get-go. It seems however that every effort has been made to get a failing proposal over the line. Property owners are extremely annoyed that they now face the prospect of being forced to pay an additional levy of between R200 to R500 plus VAT per household per month for five years. We’re already under huge financial pressure. This is totally unacceptable.”
Residents point out that Edgemead is already regarded as a safe and well-maintained suburb. Bodin, after securing crime statistics from SAPS, said: “There has been a reduction in crime by 27% comparing 2023/2024 to 2024/2025.”
The community argues that existing services from SAPS, the City of Cape Town and the Neighbourhood Watch, along with visible patrols by five additional Metro Police officers, make the CID unnecessary.
Ward 5 Candidate Councillor, Kevin Siebert (CAPEXIT), said many residents are already stretched beyond their limits.
“I find it unbelievable that, after what we’ve all just experienced, in terms of the increased rates and txes, they’re attempting to further place residents in a precarious financial situation. I heard from some residents that they’ll be forced to sell their properties and others who are renting may have to downscale to a more affordable rental.”
Critics of the plan are also questioning the way the proposal has been presented.
Bodin said key information has been withheld and concerns raised by residents ignored.
“I was requested to obtain further clarification and information on behalf of the residents and in correspondence with the City’s CID Department, it has become clear that certain questions and points are being ignored. I have also found that the Steering Committee made a statement in their Report compiled after the Urban Management Survey (UMS) was finalised.
“Despite them having feedback from only 579 out of over 3600 residents (16%) on desired services, they stated that they had approximately 62% of property owners in Edgemead expressing a willingness in principle to pay for additional rates. What nonsense.”
Siebert went further, warning of the risks of signing off on such a scheme.
“This proposal is a solution in search of a problem. The vast majority of residents we engage with do not see the need for extra services over and above what they already receive for their rates and taxes.
“If there are service issues, we hold the City accountable to resolve it. Imposing an additional levy for services we do not need, through a process that has been exclusionary and opaque, is undemocratic and unacceptable. Our community is being asked to sign a blank cheque for R50-million, for a project with no clear, demonstrable need.”
Residents are now urging one another to withhold support during the consent phase of the application.
Fernandes said:“We urge every property owner to withhold their signature during the consent phase of the CID application process. Without 60 % written consents, the proposal cannot proceed. We further call on the Edgemead CID Steering Committee to recognise the overwhelming lack of community backing and to withdraw the proposal in its entirety.”
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za