In June 2023, I wrote, with a heavy heart, that the Observatory Civic Association (OCA) had to withdraw our court challenge to the River Club redevelopment because of a lack of funding. This followed a bruising and intense battle in which partners opposed to the development were subject to all kinds of mischief, harassment, threats and financial intimidation. As a result, the decision to approve the intrusion of a dense Mixed Use development in a floodplain of high heritage significance and environmental sensitivity could never be tested in court.

Two years later, we can see how the River Club approval has served as the first domino in a wider plan to dismember the Two Rivers Urban Park. An intention to re-develop the Oude Molen precinct, initially mooted by the Provincial Government in 2021, was renewed in April 2024.  Oude Molen residents were initially assured “there were no specific plans at the moment” and that “the team of environmental specialists was still in the process of investigating possible development opportunities.” However, within 6 months, a plan for another dense mixed-use application appeared, supported by a Heritage Impact Assessment that was highly flawed. The plan completely destroyed the Eco-Village character of site and ignored the small businesses, NGOs and community services established with local communities at the site, hailed in 2016 as an “eco-friendly haven in the centre of Cape Town”.

For example, the Heritage Impact Assessment claimed that the application to grade the entire Two Rivers Urban Park as a heritage site had been rejected by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). This statement was completely untrue. SAHRA is busy considering a grading of the TRUP as a national heritage site following a recommendation from Heritage Western Cape in 2021 as a result of our application for the TRUP for Provincial Heritage Status in 2020.

Not surprisingly, the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) on the Oude Molen Eco Village development was rejected this week by Heritage Western Cape for a number of reasons.  The HIA failed to investigate the living heritage of the site adequately; it failed to consider the Oude Molen site in the context of the broader TRUP heritage area; it glossed over the impact of the proposed massing of buildings on site and therefore could not inform precinct-specific indicators. These were amongst the factors that led HWC to conclude this week that the HIA did not meet the requirements of the National Heritage Resources Act and they ordered a revised HIA be conducted to remedy these defects and be advertised to all Interested and Affected Parties.

Notably, the HWC specifically cited the importance of making it possible for all First Nation groups identified in the River Club HIA to participate, which the initial HIA had failed to recognise. Above is an image of the Goringhaicona Kraal at Oude Molen, which the HIA completely ignored in identifying heritage resources on the site.

The decision is a significant one because it signals that Heritage Western Cape will not rubber stamp the authorities’ applications when they fail to address heritage protections adequately. It also, as noted in a press release by the Oude Molen Eco Village, signals recognition of the need for greater transparency, participation and meaningful consultation in this development.

Oude Molen Eco-Village residents and small businesses have started a petition, which I would urge readers to consider signing. 

I will continue updating those who signed the petition on the River Club on the Oude Molen development as the same dynamics are playing out again. Decisions already taken are put out for rubber stamping with token public participation. Only with your support will the Oude Molen residents, NGOs and small businesses have a meaningful say in preserving a unique part of Cape Town that all of Cape Town should be able to enjoy.

This is, yet again, a contestaton of what kind of development we see for Cape Town - one determined behind closed doors by officals, politicians and technicians, or one in which people have a meaningful say in determining what kind of City we want?