Today was Freedom Day, commemorating our first elections under a democratic South Africa. Today we held our second Freedom Day walk to affirm that the sacred heritage and precious environmental wetlands of the Liesbeek are not for sale. Rich and powerful people in our city think they can secure administrative decisions in their favour by claiming economic benefits for all. But they were proven wrong in the High Court on March 18th when Judge Goliath issued the interdict to halt construction at the River Club pending the High Court Review.

However, the developers and their allies in government have lots of funds to wage lawfare against us by dragging us to the Appeal Court. They applied for leave to appeal the interdict on April 14th. While we hope that Judge Goliath will turn down their applications, we have to anticipate all eventualities. And if it goes to the Appeal Court that will hugely ratchet up our legal fees. For a campaign that relies solely on crowd funding, we desperately need additional funding for our mounting legal costs. If everyone who signed this petition was willing to donate R20 (or $1), that would enable our campaign to be on a more equal footing with our adversaries.

So, I am urging you, amidst all the other global or national crises needing your support, to help us win this historic battle by making a donation for our costs – for whatever amount you can. So, please help us fund these legal costs by contributing at our fundraising site. Or donors from outside South Africa might find it easier to use our BackaBuddy site.

Today our event was attended by a range of Khoi activists, civic members, residents, and NGO supporters who united by following a Freedom walk from the Oude Molen Ecovillage across the Black River to the Liesbeek River in order to say no to the corruption of heritage and the violation of the riverine environment. Through the walk, the speeches and blessing, we remembered the events that have deep meaning for Khoi and San peoples, including the resistance and dispossession that took place on this historic landscape.  It was our second such walk after a similar event in 2021. Ceremonies blessed the river and cleansing ceremonies were held to recognise our common spirituality and humanity.  We heard speaker after speaker confirm that heritage, which is that which the Khoi people generously share with all people of the region, is not for sale. We heard messages of support from afar, from the Kalahari, from Ogoniland in Nigeria and from Palestine, all sites sharing common struggles of indigenous people against injustice.

Despite centuries of efforts by successive colonial and post-colonial government to exterminate their language, their culture and their persons, Khoi and San activists are resolute that the River Club re-development is an affront. There can be no freedom on Freedom Day if the Khoi and San people’s stories remain invisible, if they are denied the opportunities to speak out against this sacrilege.

You will find more information on the campaign and video clips from the event at our website.   Follow the Liesbeek Action Campaign on twitter: @LiesbeekAction.

Make the Liesbeek Matter!