A neighbourhood chose to act.

WORKING WITH THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN

Community initiative. Municipal engagement. Shared public value.

GRAPA’s story includes sustained engagement with the City of Cape Town. The original garden site was municipal/public land, and GRAPA’s records show that it received temporary permission from the City’s Roads Department in 2021 to use the Gabriel and Bardia Roads site for urban food gardening. That engagement helped connect community initiative with the structures responsible for the wider area.

GRAPA does not replace the City or act on its behalf. Its role is to organise local participation, communicate, maintain relationships and engage through appropriate municipal and community processes.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR RESIDENTS

By transforming a crime hotspot into a beautiful green space, we permanently mitigated local urban decay, successfully safeguarding and stabilizing local residential property values. GRAPA gives the neighbourhood an organised way to participate, communicate and care for the place where people live.  It can provide continuity, communicate community concerns, maintain institutional knowledge and engage with relevant municipal structures around shared neighbourhood matters.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

Businesses are part of the same precinct. A functioning community organisation with established municipal engagement contributes to local participation, environmental improvement and communication around shared neighbourhood matters. A stronger precinct is good for business. As a registered civic organisation and Interested and Affected Party  within City of Cape Town planning and regulatory processes, GRAPA provides a consolidated platform through which local stakeholders can be represented in municipal matters including:

1. Land use and zoning applications

2. Spatial development and precinct planning

3. Liquor licence and trading-related applications

4. Environmental and infrastructure-related submissions

A stronger business membership base enhances GRAPA’s representational mandate and ensures that commercial interests within the precinct are included in coordinated, structured engagement with municipal authorities. This collective representation provides businesses with a stronger and more coherent voice than isolated individual submissions.

WHY THIS MATTERS WHEN YOU SUPPORT GRAPA

GRAPA’s established relationship with the City of Cape Town helps connect community initiative with the municipal structures responsible for the wider area. Your support strengthens a community organisation that has already demonstrated its ability to turn local participation into visible, lasting results.

Milestones and Community Investment: 2020–2025

GRAPA’s story is not only about creating a garden. It is the story of a community choosing to care for a neglected public space and, step by step, turning it into something productive, welcoming and worth protecting.

FROM A NEGLECTED SPACE TO A SHARED VISION

In 2020, residents came together around a simple but ambitious idea: a neglected road reserve could become a community asset.

The area required far more than planting. It first needed sustained clean-up work, cooperation with the City of Cape Town and the commitment of residents who believed that the space could serve a better purpose.

A coordinated clean-up took place in March 2021, bringing GRAPA, municipal services and other role-players together. This important intervention helped create the foundation from which the community garden could begin to grow.

BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS

Community contributions funded the practical infrastructure needed to secure and establish the garden.

In 2022, GRAPA invested R76,585 in perimeter fencing to help protect the site and prepare it for cultivation. A further R18,500 was invested during 2022 and 2023 in a wellpoint, water-storage tank, pressure pump and associated infrastructure.

This water system reduced the garden’s dependence on municipal drinking water and helped provide a more sustainable foundation for food production.

Further improvements followed, including additional growing areas, irrigation development, storage and potting facilities, security measures and spaces for seedlings and garden equipment. Some of this work is complete, while other improvements continue as funding becomes available.

ESTABLISHING GRAPA

GRAPA was incorporated as a Non-Profit Company in November 2020 and registered as a Non-Profit Organisation with the Department of Social Development on 20 December 2022.

On 25 July 2022, SARS approved GRAPA’s income-tax exemption under section 10(1)(e)(i)(cc) of the Income Tax Act. GRAPA is now working towards updating its governance framework and applying for approval as a Public Benefit Organisation under Section 30.

GRAPA does not currently hold Section 18A approval and cannot issue Section 18A tax-deductible donation receipts.

GROWING FOOD — AND POSSIBILITY

As the garden became established, production and community support grew with it.

Income generated through GRAPA’s garden activities increased from R84,755.84 in 2024 to R277,051.90 in 2025. This growth reflects the quality of the produce, the dedication of the garden team and the support of people who return to the garden week after week.

Freshly harvested produce is sold at the garden every Saturday morning. The month-end GRAPA Market brings vendors and visitors together, creating a welcoming place where people shop, talk, share ideas and experience the garden as a community space.

The garden also produces sought-after compost, made from suitable organic material contributed by the community and generated through the garden’s activities.

A COMMUNITY THAT FINDS A WAY

GRAPA’s development has been supported through community donations and creative fundraising.

A SnapScan fundraising campaign raised R15,000 in 2024. An earlier Lucky Draw raised R16,504 with prizes sponsored by 13 local businesses, while an ocean-swim challenge raised R20,900 through the Give and Gain platform.

Each campaign showed what becomes possible when people contribute their money, time, skills, networks or encouragement towards a shared purpose.

WORKING TOGETHER

GRAPA continues to engage with residents, the City of Cape Town, civic structures, local businesses, nurseries, security partners, volunteers and supporters.

GRAPA also helps facilitate clean-ups and improvements in nearby public spaces. These surrounding areas are separate from the GRAPA garden, but the work reflects the same belief: cared-for spaces can strengthen a neighbourhood and encourage people to care for one another.

What began as a response to neglect has grown into a productive garden, a gathering place and a visible example of what sustained community action can achieve.

HELP US GROW THE NEXT CHAPTER

GRAPA’s progress has been built one fence, seedling, garden bed, volunteer shift and community contribution at a time.

With continued support, the garden can grow more food, improve its water resilience, expand composting, create learning opportunities, strengthen local livelihoods and remain a welcoming place for the community.

Become a monthly supporter, volunteer your time or speak to us about partnering with GRAPA.

GRAPA’s story belongs to everyone who has helped turn concern into action—and everyone who will help carry the work forward.

RECOGNITION, PARTNERSHIPS AND SUPPORT

A selection of moments recognising the garden team, community partners and sponsors who have supported GRAPA’s work. These photographs were taken at different events and times.