Our campaign against the River Club development will at last have its days in court from the 19th to the 21st January 2022. We are confident we have a strong case and judging by the misinformation being put out about us and the smears directed at us, the proponents of this development are worried. They should be. But please remember, we still need financial support for the legal costs as we are taking on a Goliath with deep pockets so any contributions will be greatly appreciated (and will be eligible for a Section 18A tax certificate) and contributions of R 1000 or more will be rewarded with a campaign T-shirt.
Perhaps the challenge facing us is best captured in the words of Journalist and Author Maria Ressa, who, as the first Filipina, received the Nobel peace prize this year. Her acceptance speech rings so true for our struggles here in South Africa, here in Observatory and here on the banks of the Liesbeek River:
“Without facts, you can’t have truth. Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without trust, we have no shared reality, no democracy and it becomes impossible to deal with the world’s existential problems … Democracy has become a woman-to-woman, man-to-man defence of our values. We’re at a sliding door moment, where we can continue down the path we’re on and descend further into fascism, or we can each choose to fight for a better world … The destruction has happened. Now it’s time to build — to create the world we want. Now, please, with me, close your eyes. And imagine the world as it should be. A world of peace, trust and empathy, bringing out the best that we can be. Now let’s go and make it happen. Let’s hold the line. Together.”
Together, we can make a new way of thinking about urban spaces possible in Cape Town; we can start a process where the Two Rivers Urban Park is an epicentre of healing and reconciliation.
We look forward to working with you. Together, in 2022.
Leslie London, OCA Chair.