The Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP) celebrates a decade of positive impact in Bellville, and the achievements and milestones reached thanks to all their project partners, and City of Cape Town being their main funding partner.
The GTP is a platform organisation based in Bellville that fosters partnerships and dialogue to achieve a common development vision for the Greater Tygerberg area. Through investment promotion and precinct development support services across the Tygerberg area, their key strategic goal is ensuring that the Greater Tygerberg area’s economic development remains centred on Bellville and continues to impact and modernise the area where all are free to work, live and play.
“I could not first believe it when I was reminded that The Greater Tygerberg Partnership has been established for a decade already. It feels as though our work has really just begun. However, I think that is natural for an organisation that is aiming to have an impact that lasts for generations,” says Justin Coetzee, chairman of GTP.
“We are especially excited about the future of Bellville and the impending investment by the City into major projects such as the unlocking of land in the Bellville area for affordable housing development, UWC’s commitment to the Bellville CBD, the Bellville Future City Masterplan, the feasibility of the City taking over the passenger rail management authority, the development of a second airport for Cape Town, and many more projects that are in the pipeline.”
Bellville has a Future City vision that the City of Cape Town developed and launched in 2021, and the GTP is fully behind the exciting and comprehensive investment vision for Bellville – as a testament to the difference they have made over the last decade, property values in the Bellville CBD have risen by 52.5% since 2010.
According to the City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member James Vos, “The partnership with GTP is essential to unlocking further opportunities in the area, and I look forward to working closely with their team. Supporting the development of economic nodes across the metro is absolutely vital to realise more opportunities for Capetonians. This means that we can also showcase the wealth and variety of potential investments to a global audience of businesses and corporations.”
“There will be a great focus on investment related to land and the development of public transport – a long-term project that will span multiple financial years,” adds Vos.
There are many projects in the pipeline for the area including a community cycling initiative, experimenting with biofuel as a solution to food waste, urban greening projects, the installation of public art, the expansion of the trolley recycling and zero waste schools project, and many more.
The GTP also plans to invest more optimally into research and innovation within the district and involve different stakeholders in finding innovative solutions in the area.
“The GTP and the city will work to create the innovation district, a zone specifically designed to draw public and private investment, attract entrepreneurs, start-ups, business incubators, and ultimately revitalise certain areas. Non-motorised transport alternatives – such as cycling – are also on the cards,” explains Vos.
“Ultimately, a systemic challenge – like so many we face in Bellville – demands a systemic solution. That is the principle that guides all our interventions.”
Looking ahead for the next decade, the GTP will work with the City and other stakeholders to develop similar visions for other nodes and areas in the Tygerberg area – Parow, Goodwood, Kuilsriver, the Tygerberg medical precinct, Tygervalley, Durbanville – up and down Voortrekker Road, Durban Road, Symphony Way and Robert Sobukwe – to name a few. By doing this, they will bring the communities of the Tygerberg area together – with the focal node of Bellville.
“Our ten-year milestone could not have been reached without the active and practical help and assistance from our direct line champion city officials who are our biggest partners, as well as the wisdom and experience of the councillors on our Board. We want to also acknowledge the key direction and leadership from our political sponsor Alderman James Vos and the firm support of our new mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis,” Coetzee adds.
GTP also acknowledges past and present directors, councillors, as well as the founding board members who saw the need for this organisation – Desmond Smith, Musa Shezi, Erwin Schwella, Sam Pienaar, Johan van der Merwe, Chris O’Connor – to name but a few.
Thanking their board who give input and greatly contribute to the management of this organisation Coetzee comments: “I am very fortunate to be chairing a board of talented, diverse and hard-working directors who are deeply invested in making the Greater Tygerberg area a success – and working with an incredible executive team. They give a lot of time behind the scenes – and are a passionate and key part of the GTP’s successful delivery over the last ten years.
“I want to personally recognize Warren Hewitt, our CEO – for his leadership and drive which is essential to the success of the venture and the GTP team who go above and beyond what is expected of them every single day. We look forward to what the next decade brings.”
The P in GTP stands for Partnerships; the GTP is not the implementer of the change in the area rather an advocate and lobbyist, convenor and facilitator of Partnerships that develop, improve and maintain the Greater Tygerberg area where all are free to work, live and play.
For more information about GTP visit www.gtp.org.za.
