16th June from 12pm, Princess Vlei, Prince George Drive, Grassy Park. (more info- www.bottomroadsanctuary.co.za/
To coincide with Youth Day Celebrations and view the People’s Plan for Princess Vlei. Public of all ages are invited to share their ideas at this opportunity for a creative expression of our future. Bring your picnics and braais, banners and hand-made posters. Guest speakers, poetry, prayer, art and music.
For easy access, find parking in main Vlei car park and also on Sasmeer Road, Retreat. Tel Mea 074 101 1927
For more information:
Research and Opinion
Both scientific research and community appraisal of the debate around the proposed commercial development at Princess Vlei are hotting up – at once reflecting one another and sending out a clarion call that development at the Vlei should be according to the needs of society, environment and the future.
Studies conducted in the area by scientists from the Royal Institute of Art and Architecture Stockholm, whose mandate is to investigate ‘ongoing societal changes connected to an architectural and urban discourse’, have presented incisive findings on the area that they describe as ‘situated exactly on the frontline between two value systems’. (Cape Times 8.6.12)
Having discussed the impact of urban planning in general on nature and society, and in particular with reference to Princess Vlei and environs, they conclude ‘ … one way to go would be to demonstrate the real cost in cash of disregarding the imperatives of nature and destroying cultural heritage.’ (See: Front line between two value systems)
The Princess Vlei Forum sees the proposed mall as an indelible threat to the area and is documenting grass roots response which so far indicates strong resistance to commercial desecration of this Public Open Space – a site of heritage, recreational, and wetland importance.
“On Saturday morning I handed out flyers for the June 16 People’s Rally at the Vlei. Out of the hundreds of people I met that day, not one voiced support for the mall development- every one of them painted a vision similar to that of the People’s Plan,” said James George campaign worker and representative of the Princess Vlei Forum.
16th June People’s Rally
The eastern shore of Princess Vlei is the venue for the People’ Rally on Youth day, Saturday 16th June, hosted by Princess Vlei Forum, a non-partisan grouping of individuals, civic, arts, faith and environmental organisations, to draw attention to the plight of Princess Vlei, which has been threatened for nearly two decades by commercial development. Despite continuing clear calls from citizens of Cape Town, the Western Cape Government is currently giving the green light to rezoning public open space owned by the City, without a full consultative process.
The public, young and old, will have their say. It will be a colourful sight, a scene of hope for the future and a celebration of unity, as the people arrive at 12 noon to braai and to picnic, with banners and posters displaying their support for the Vlei and the People’s Plan. On the podium dancing and singing will be co-ordinated by Heal the Hood Project and Black Noise. Youngsters have been writing their own words for the songs and putting them to music. The plight of their ‘Princess’ has hit this community hard.
Residents from Vlei environs and beyond will attend, as well as City Councillors and Members of Provincial and National Government and Cosatu. There will be an interfaith ceremony and the Khoi community, led by Chief !Kora Hennie van Wyk, will perform a cleansing ritual.
At 2 pm details of the People’s Plan for Princess Vlei will be unveiled. The Plan, in tune with socio-environmental needs, and open to public participation, builds on the three-year Dressing of the Princess Project which has restored indigenous growth, redefining the area for community activity.
Dialogue and Appeal
There has been little dialogue between Princess Vlei Forum and Western Cape Government despite numerous attempts of the PVF to communicate at the highest level. People in the area of the Vlei feel marginalised and the citizens of Greater Cape Town, who stand in solidarity with them, see another challenge to Cape Town’s Green Spaces. Member of the Princess Vlei Forum, Advocate Sharief America of the Southern Suburbs Legal Advice Centre states, “We must stand together and Province must heed our requests for consultation. It would be a great pity if we had to take this to the High Court.”
Chairperson of Logra (Lotus River, Grassy park Civic Association) Mr Philip Bam, says, “My appeal now is directly to the developer. Hear the people. Save yourself a lot of trouble and withdraw. Can’t you see the anger of the people? This is no longer the oppressive Apartheid era where people stand idly by while the jack boot falls on their necks. This development is not going to work for you or the people whom you want as part of your mall. Invest your money elsewhere or even in the People’s Plan.”
Vlei residents offer an alternative
THE communities opposed to the development of a 9 000m2 shopping complex on the banks of Princess Vlei have developed their own alternative plan for the wetland which will include hiking trails and the development of a cultural Khoisan Village instead.
The “Save Princess Vlei” lobby group came up with the “People’s Plan” because it believes the new mall will destroy local business.
It said instead of money going to local business and remaining in the Grassy Park area, “money will be sucked away to the pockets of big retailers”.
“There are already many shopping centres nearby – we don’t need another one. Princess Vlei is part of our memory, history and culture – from the Khoisan who were here first, to the people who have grown up and lived their lives here. The government can’t erase our history and heritage,” read a statement from the group.
Phillip Bam of the Greater Cape Town Civic Alliance, who has been one of the mall’s biggest opponents, said they have a plan for Princess Vlei which is to “redevelop and rehabilitate” the natural ecosystem and to revitalise the public open space.
The interventions in the People’s Plan include:
- Hiking trail to Macassar Dunes
- Hiking trail to Elephants Eye Cave
- Walkway Princess Vlei
- A cultural and socionature centre
- Khoisan village
- Sunset Concert Park
- Play park for children
“This is something the people want. People don’t want a mall there. There will be walkways around the vlei, braai areas and … an eco-centre so kids can learn about sensitive fynbos and the history of the Khoisan and a craft market. We will not concrete 9 000m
He said they will be launching the People’s Plan for Princess Vlei on June 16.
“Princess Vlei is almost like Table Mountain and people can’t live without it.”
In April the province gave the clearance needed for the shopping complex to be built on the shores of Princess Vlei.
The development has been met with strong opposition from environmental lobby groups and neighbouring communities who use the green area for recreation.
The lobby groups say the development of the land has been in the offing since Insight Property Developers initially tried to buy it from the city in 1998.
In 2008 Princess Vlei became part of a communityled rehabilitation project of fynbos and wetland ecology named “The Dressing The Princess”.
An ecologist working for the SA National Biodiversity Institute, George Davis, said earlier that a big building on the shores of the Princess Vlei would impact negatively on the eco-system as contaminated run-off water would be generated which would flow into the vlei.
Princess Vlei People’s Rally
For easy access, find parking in main Vlei car park and also on Sasmeer Road, Retreat. Tel 074 101 1927
Princess Vlei Forum Spokesperson: Mea Lashbrooke 074 101 1927
Local Civic, also co-ordinator of Princess Vlei Forum: Philip Bam 083 658 3885
Ecology/Sociology/collated the People’s Plan: Henrik Ernstson
Legal: Sharief America, Advocate, of SSLAC (Southern Suburbs Legal Action Centre) 084 5677112
Meetali Jain of CLASI (Constitutional Literacy and Services Initiative) and UCT 079 103 4456 or 021 6504137
Technical complexities/manoeuvrings of City and Province/Greater CT Civic Alliance: Graham Noble 021 685 0124 or 082 852 2030 or
Wetland Specialist: Patrick Dowling of WESSA(Wildlife Environmental Society of South Africa)
General media enquiries- James George 072 1309721