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…
Letter to the OCA from one of our members regarding informal settlements in Obs
Good afternoon, I hope I am sending this to the correct email addresses; please excuse if this is not the case. First of all I would like to say I appreciate and am very grateful for all the hard work the OCA and Obsid are doing to protect Obs residents in various ways. Well done!…
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…
Bicycles and gardens: Inspiring action and instilling hope
NEWS | By Marcela Guerrero Casas | 26 October 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to a number of urban projects that provide opportunities to build community. Among those that are seeding hope and neighbourhood connection are projects that involve gardens and bicycles. If it weren’t for the news of a second wave wreaking…
Busting myths about homelessness: What you should know
NEWS | By Caryn Gootkin | 09 October 2020 10 October is World Homeless Day, which highlights the needs of homeless people. What better time, then, to sort fact from fiction in the ongoing battle between homeless people and those who feel they have no place in ‘their’ neighbourhoods. Shelters are free and freely available…
Singabalapha wins interdict against eviction:
City of Cape Town loses yet another ground-breaking court case Singabalapha Press release, 7 October 2020 It is with the greatest of gratitude that we, the movement known as Singabalapha (We Belong Here), write this press release in celebration of the Cape High Court’s decision to interdict the City of Cape Town from confiscating our…
A River Runs Through Obz
I hope that, by now, most of the residents are at least aware of the local community TRASH-Bash monthly clean-ups that take place along the River in Observatory on the first Saturday of every month? This little Community project was started by Ricardo Sa in 2013 and has run almost continuously since, barring a short…
Air pollution bothering you?
If you have a neighboring source emitting fumes, smoke or other disturbance of air quality, the City’s Health Department will be responsible for investigating. Here is a form to complete which you can send to [email protected]. Make sure that you capture the actual event/s when an air pollution nuisance is experienced. Captured events must represent…
Considering making changes to your house?
‘Hi Obsies, standing on my OCA A&H soapbox here reminding you that even if you are making ‘small’ or internal changes to your house, you need plans drawn up by a SACAP registered professional. Heritage protects the INSIDE, OUTSIDE and even the TREES of buildings older than 60 years. I know estate agents like to…