Over 8000 people have signed the petition that calls for all Chapman’s Peak toll plaza construction to be ceased immediately. Members of the public have been actively rallying for signatures within Hout Bay, including Bronwen Lankers-Bryne, the Hout Bay resident who chained herself to a metal pole on the building site until she was evicted by a court order; she also embarked on a 15-day hunger strike. It’s clearly an issue people are passionate about, and the support is growing.
Tuesday saw the beginning of the public’s legal challenge to the necessary authorities to end construction of the toll plaza and luxury offices on Chapman’s Peak. The provincial government, SanParks and toll road concessionaire, Entilini, were informed by the Hout Bay Resident’s Association that the association was applying for a court order to cease construction of all toll infrastructure. The association believes that building the toll plaza is in contravention of the law, due to the status of Chapman’s Peak as a recognized World Heritage Site and national park- construction should only be able to occur if the land has been deproclaimed.
SanParks is fully behind the toll plaza’s construction, and last month, told the Cape Times that the deproclamation process has begun in order to free the land for the build.
Entilini will be served the papers by next week Monday, and in the mean time, have been advised by the residents’ attorneys to save themselves trouble and money by ceasing construction immediately.
If you would like to find out more visit the Greater Cape Town Civil Alliance website. You can also add your signature to the online petition or check out www.houtbay.org.za for updates from the Hout Bay Resident’s Association.
Image by Matt Biddulph
