The story. Perched on the outskirts of Observatory in Cape Town, just above the Black River, stands the South African Astronomical Observatory. Initially known as the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, it has multiple telescopes, a museum, a library and a mechanical workshop that can “build, maintain and support the various instruments used on telescopes in…
Occupiers on old circus school land cry foul over City of Cape Town’s conduct
Occupiers allege that the City ignored a court instruction to hold meaningful engagements with them. Picture: Supplied NEWS | By Marvin Charles | Sep 22, 2020 Cape Town – A group of people illegally staying at the former SA National Circus School next to Hartleyvale Stadium in Observatory are livid after the City allegedly ignored…
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…
Amazon Part of Mega Development Given Go-Ahead at Two Rivers Urban Park
The River Club, currently a nine-hole golf course, is to be rezoned and will house new headquarters for giant multi-national company Amazon, following a decision by the City’s Municipal Planning Tribunal on Friday. Photo: Steve Kretzmann Developer says Amazon will be anchor tenant. By Steve Kretzmann NEWS | Sep 23, 2020 | Steve Kretzmann The…
City of Cape Town approves River Club redevelopment
NEWS | 22ND SEPTEMBER 2020 | BY: SIMONE LIEDTKE The rezoning application for the River Club redevelopment in Observatory, Cape Town, has been approved by the Municipal Planning Tribunal. After considering submissions from the applicant, interested and affected parties, as well as officials representing the City of Cape Town, the tribunal recommended the approval. The city…
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:…
River Club campaign update
The recent history of the River Club is instructive Our last post referred to an observation made by Heritage Western about the River Club HIA, where it referred to the River Club’s “origins in the 1920s.” HWC was critical of this emphasis on recent history. But let’s examine the recent history of the site over…
a Word from our Chair
Dear OCA members We are deeply dismayed by two recent developments that you will have heard about. Firstly, on the 20th August the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP), issued an Environmental Authorisation to the owners of the River Club property, LLPT, for their massive mixed-use development on a sacred piece of land and…
OCA statement read out at the MPT appeal hearing last Friday
Thank you. I present the views of the OCA on this application, views that are widely shared by a coalition of more than 60 first nation groups, civic associations and non-governmental organisations and by more than 18000 people who have signed a petition objecting to this development. We believe the MPT is being rushed into…