The City of Cape Town, in partnership with the Atterbury Trust, has started a community-led house-painting initiative in Uitsig, marking the first visible implementation phase of the broader neighbourhood renewal initiative under the Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme (MURP) of the city.
This initiative will see 22 homes painted across selected streets in Uitsig. Following this pilot phase, the programme will expand to approximately 75 homes per week, with a total of 1000 homes targeted for painting as part of Phase-1 of the Uitsig community renewal project.
Reportedly, the painting initiative stems from a comprehensive door-to-door community survey conducted in Uitsig in May 2025. This survey was made possible with the support of trained local Community Ambassadors using the Wakamoso platform, and covered 1,187 formal stands and 402 backyard dwellings, which represents close to 40% of units in the area. Residents identified visible improvements to the neighbourhood environment as a priority for restoring dignity, pride and confidence.
Deputy Mayor and Member of the Mayoral Committee for Spatial Planning and Environment – Alderman Eddie Andrews said that this work is guided directly by what residents told them, matters most in their daily lives. By grounding implementation in community-identified priorities, they can deliver change that is both visible and meaningful.
The pilot project focuses on homes along Carnation Avenue, Aster Avenue, Tambotie Court and Erica Road which is being implemented through a mix of resident-led DIY painting, supervised teams and assisted support where required.
Uitsig is a designated MURP node, and this project aligns with the programme’s focus on targeted, place-based interventions that combine physical improvements with local economic participation and skills development.
Community Ambassadors, such as EPWP workers are recruited from within Uitsig, and are integrally involved in the day-to-day running of the project. Their role includes resident engagement; daily check-ins with participating households; supervision where required; coordination of materials and progress tracking.
Deputy Mayor Andrews said that the Community Ambassadors are central to how this project operates. They are local EPWP workers understand the area, work directly with residents, and will help in ensuring that implementation is coordinated, accountable and is rooted in the community.
Beyond painting, the broader Uitsig by Uitsig programme includes household and community food gardens; murals; skills registration; CV development and support for local businesses, forming part of a multi-pronged approach to neighbourhood renewal.
Andrews further added that partnerships like this with the Atterbury Trust allow them to align private-sector investment with community priorities and public-sector coordination. This is how they deliver regeneration that builds pride, creates opportunity and strengthens local resilience.
Notably, the City of Cape Town will continue to provide technical guidance, coordination, and oversight throughout the roll-out to ensure alignment with broader MURP objectives.