23 MAY 2021 — It’s now clear that the driving force behind the River Club development is Amazon, the company whose profits have tripled during the COVID-19 epidemic. Since there are huge profits to be made from the River Club developments, it is money that is dictating how this development is being pushed through. Faced with…
The Amazonification of the Liesbeek River Valley
9 MAY 2021 — It’s now no secret that Amazon are the driver behind the River Club development. Pro-development groups gush over the fact and welcome Amazon’s investment in Cape Town, but never stop to ask why Amazon has turned a sacred heritage site and environmentally sensitive floodplain into an investment opportunity when there are…
Two sides of preserving heritage and history – whose version counts?
2 MAY 2021 — When the fierce fires swept across Cape Town and devastated irreplaceable texts and materials stored in the Jagger reading room at UCT’s library on Sunday 18th April (see the image above), there was a national and international outpouring of concern at the senseless destruction of our heritage and history. There was…
A moment in history – Truth, Reconciliation and Justice for Indigenous peoples in South Africa
27 APR 2021 — Today, a momentous day unfolded when the Salt River Heritage Society (SRHS), the Observatory Civic Association (OCA), the Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Indigenous Council, the Two River Urban Park Association (TRUPA), and the Oude Molen Eco Village joined forces to commemorate the deep spiritual history of the Two Rivers Urban Park area,…
Amazon: What is it that Jody has to hide?
6 OCT 2020 — It’s now public knowledge that the Liesbeek Leisure Property Trust hopes to have Amazon as their anchor tenant for their R 4 billion in-the-floodplain 150 000 m2 development at the River Club. But for someone who claims to have “always approached this project with maximum transparency”, there are some things that are rather puzzling…
A word from our chair
Wear that Mask – for your grandmother, your grandfather, your parents, your children, your friends, for everyone! Dear Obs residents Yesterday I went jogging, as I do when I have time, to keep reasonably fit. I put on my mask and am used now to jogging with a mask in public spaces, though I found…
Dis-Chem is vaccinating walk-ins aged 50 and over – but you still need to register on the EVDS
Dis-Chem is now accepting walk-ins, whether they’re insured or not, for Covid-19 vaccinations. This includes people aged 50 and above who have recently been urged to register for their jabs on the Electronic Vaccination System. More than 500,000 people in the 50 to 59 age group have already registered and some have received their first…
Reminder to make use of the city’s fault-logging C3 system
Please take pictures of environmental disasters and failing infrastructure and log this with the city council on their C3-Reporting system. It works. Option 1 – Report a service request online: Follow the prompts to log the request. Please note that you can follow up on your request once it’s logged. Notes: When describing the fault, it’s important to log as much detail as possible. If you’re reporting a water related fault, indicate whether…
Court dismisses Observatory occupants’ application against City of Cape Town
A group of people living on property formerly leased to the South African National Circus School in Observatory, Cape Town, have lost a court bid to have some details of the City of Cape Town’s housing report excluded from the record. The report gives details about the occupants’ personal circumstances and the possibility of providing…
Even the City of Cape Town thinks this decision fails to respect heritage and natural environment
13 SEP 2020 — It’s been pretty incredible. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) produced an implausible document purporting to provides reasons for granting an Environmental Authorisation (EA) to the LLPT for their proposed development of the River Club. Hardly has the ink dried on that authorisation, and whilst the Appeal process…