Community Safety
Whether the Department has considered leasing some of the land at the Chrysalis Academy in Tokai to the South African Riding for the Disabled Association (SARDA); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
The Department of Public Works and the Chrysalis Academy received expressions of interest in 2019 from the South African Riding for the Disabled Association (SARDA) for use of a portion of the Porter Estate to accommodate its horse-riding school. The Chrysalis Academy, had at the time, already registered its need for additional space on the Porter Estate for its outdoor and therapeutic care activities targeting vulnerable youth. In terms of the Western Cape Safety Plan, more space is required for camps with younger youth, as these would happen simultaneously, while the Chrysalis Academy’s three-month programme was in progress. Following a protracted court battle with other horse riding tenants occupying the space that SARDA requested, the Department of Transport and Public Works decided that the space would be utilised in terms of the Western Cape Government’s service delivery objectives, and be allocated to the Department of Community Safety in 2019. This would enable the Chrysalis Academy to make use of the land for its activities with vulnerable older youth and younger youth in terms of the Western Cape Safety Plan. SARDA was accordingly informed that the space was not available.
