The history of the Helderberg Residents’ Action Association (HRAA)
The Helderberg Action Association was formed in 1994 for the primary purpose of fighting against the incorporation of the Helderberg into the UniCity of Cape Town. The HAA firmly proposed that options other than the centralisation of powers should be explored and that a more localised grouping with the Winelands District Council would be far more appropriate and desirable for the Helderberg.
The HAA was fighting against what the residents saw as the betrayal of certain councillors who were siding with the proponents for the inclusion of the Helderberg into the UniCity. The Helderberg was pulled kicking and screaming into the UniCity, a move that was opposed by an estimated 90% of the community, and was widely seen as a political maneuver.
The then HAA decided that in the interest of the residents of the Helderberg, they should continue to act on behalf of the residents as a watchdog over the Council and to promote good governance.
In 1999 the Helderberg Action Association (HAA) changed its name to the Helderberg Residents’ Action Association (HRAA), a name which better described the duties of a civic organisation. By being termed a purely Ratepayers Association the HRAA also felt that certain sectors of the community e.g. tenants etc. would not be represented.
As was the case of the then HAA, the HRAA remains absolutely non-party political, and is strongly opposed to politics in Council. With this in mind the HRAA, as a representative body, has rapidly gained the support of the community since its inception, and has grown into the dedicated association of like-minded citizens that exists today.