Lisa Vives, Global Information Network – 24 Jan 2022 NEW YORK (IDN) — A massive new complex housing Amazon’s proposed South African headquarters along with a hotel and other businesses continues to face stiff opposition from indigenous Khoisan, environmental and community groups despite city officials already approving of construction of the nine-story construction. Opponents say…
Our Court Interdict will be livestreamed!
17 JAN 2022 — Today we saw the appearance of poles along the Liesbeek signalling that the developers are likely to close off the original Liesbeek river from public access, presumably as a prelude to infilling the river course. The interdict hearing could therefore not have arrived a day too soon. We hope the judge…
We stand for the truth and we stand for justice
16 JAN 2022 — On Wednesday 19th January, the Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Indigenous Traditional Council and the Observatory Civic Association will be in the High Court seeking an interdict to stop the construction at the River Club which threatens to irrevocably destroy the intangible heritage of the sacred site and contravene numerous environmental sustainability policies….
‘We’re not opposed to Amazon building HQ in Cape Town just not on heritage land’
– Concerned citizens and traditional leaders are opposing the development of the land at the confluence of the Liesbeek River for environmental and cultural-historical reasons – Activists say the area is a flood plain and not suitable for the planned development of Amazon headquarters – They also argue that the area has sacred traditional significance…
Landmark River Club case tests heritage rights
Steve Kretzmann – 24 Jan 2022 – Judge Patricia Goliath is to rule on an urgent application to stop a R4.5 billion development on the River Club site in Observatory, Cape Town. – The development, which would include a regional headquarters for corporate giant Amazon, is opposed by the Observatory Civic Association and by the…
Opposing lawyers argue money versus heritage on Amazon River Club development
Bulelwa Payi – 23 Jan 2022 AMAZON’S withdrawal from the controversial River Club development could “rob” Cape town of a R7.4 billion cash injection for its “ailing” economy, while Khoisan people argued their heritage was not up for sale. These were among a myriad arguments presented before Western Cape High Court deputy judge president Patricia…
Concrete cannot be our future
22 JAN 2022 — On Friday 21st, the court heard the last arguments in our urgent interdict application to stop the River Club re-development. The judge was much more interventive with the legal representatives for the City and the First Nations Collective (FNC). In particular, she asked probing questions about who constitutes the world of…
Amazon – the LLPT’s ‘partner’?
20 JAN 2022 — Today was the second day of the court hearings for our Interdict seeking to halt the ongoing construction at the River Club. It was filled with presentation by Counsel for the developers, LLPT, and by counsel for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning who awarded the Environmental Authorisation, over-riding…
First day of the court case seeking an interdict
19 JAN 2022 — Today was our first day in court. After a long delay, it was a relief to get to court. Our legal team was led by Advocate Alan Dodson because the advocate originally scheduled to represent us for the November dates, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, was unavailable for January. We needed to get into…
We are not optimistic; rather, we are prisoners of hope
18 JAN 2022 — Today our petition blasted through the 67 000 mark and is continuing to rise as we prepare for our days in court, starting tomorrow, 19th January. Jeff Bezos is not the only person experiencing rocket power. The difference is our petition is rocketing upward because it is driven by people power,…