PRESS STATEMENT 23 October 2020 Today, Ndifuna Ukwazi lodged an appeal against the unanimous approval by the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) of the fiercely contested River Club development in Observatory. The present owners and developer of the land, Liesbeek Leisure Properties Pty (Ltd), bought the land from a parastatal institution –…
Category: Liesbeek Action Campaign
The Liesbeek River – a “neglected stormwater gutter” or a “powerful historic symbol”?
24 October 2020 | by Leslie London | Cape Town, South Africa On Monday 26th October, the Observatory Civic Association and many other objectors will submit appeals to the City over its rezoning decision to permit the construction of a mini-Century City on the River Club grounds owned the Liesbeek Leisure Property Trust (LLPT), a decision…
Now you see it, now you don’t – the fate of the South African Astronomical Observatory
30 October 2020 | by Leslie London | Cape Town, South Africa The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) recently celebrated its 200th birthday. As a National Heritage site, and in line to be declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, you would think its concerns about the River Club development, proposed to take place within some metres of the SAAO…
Housing activists appeal against River Club development
NEWS | By Lisa Isaacs | Oct 26, 2020 Cape Town – Housing activist group Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU) in its appeal against the Municipal Planning Tribunal’s (MPT) approval of the River Club development says the site has “undisputable historical-political significance as a result of its complex history”. NU lodged its appeal against the approval by the…
River Club development ‘cannot be dealt with behind closed doors’
NEWS | By Marvin Charles | Oct 27, 2020 Cape Town – Lobby groups who have been fighting to preserve the River Club in Observatory have now taken up their fight with the City for giving approval to the Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT). Housing advocacy group Ndifuna Ukwazi lodged an appeal against the approval. Ndifuna Ukwazi…
Province goes to court over River Club ruling
This is the planned development at the River Club that is being contested by various parties. Image supplied NEWS | 29 October 2020 | By Steve Kretzmann The Public Works Department wants the Heritage Tribunal’s findings overturned. The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works has lodged papers in the Cape High Court against the…
OCA’s nominations of sites for the Liberation Heritage Route
Observatory contribution to Liberation Struggle Dear Mr Webster The Observatory Civic Association would like to make the following submission with regard to nominating sites for a Liberation Heritage Route for Cape Town. We propose the following sites which we believe are consistent with the intent of the City to promote inclusivity, speak to the shared…
How to whitewash colonial pain and trauma
No one should be comfortable with the status quo in South Africa. Decisions about land in particular (and property developments in general) should always be considered through the lens of our violent and traumatic colonial legacy. (Madelene Cronjé/M&>) NEWS | 24 Sep 2020 | Jonty Cogger Robyn Park-Ross In the same week that South Africans celebrate Heritage…
Outrcy over development on sacred ground
A multi-billion rand development on a 100-year floodplain in Cape Town will go ahead. The municipal planning tribunal’s approval of the River Club project has caused a lot of anger. The property is in a protected area of Observatory, and has great significance for the Khoi and San people. Courtesy #DStv403
Khoi council to appeal approval of River Club rezoning
NEWS | By Yolisa Tswanya | Sep 21, 2020 Cape Town – The Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Traditional Indigenous Council is in the process of appealing the decision to approve the rezoning of the River Club. The rezoning application was unanimously approved by the Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) on Friday. Goringhaicona high commissioner Tauriq Jenkins said:…