Fill the Stellenbosch "Quarry"
The Issue
On 24 October 2022, the bodies of two students were found in a gaping marshland on Bird Street in the Stellenbosch City Centre. This property, which spans over an entire block, started out as an excavation site some 30 years ago with construction having been abandoned by the owner who, to this day, continues to attempt to have a 5-storey development (which violates the city’s by-laws) approved by the City Council.
This treacherous marshland compromised the boundary wall of its neighbour, the local Catholic Church. Then on 21 October 2022, two students went missing - only to have their lifeless bodies discovered in their car 3 days later at the bottom of this death trap of a property. It’s assumed that while driving back late at night, the couple took the corner of the road too early and landed up at the bottom of the quarry. If an entire car could go missing in there for 3 days without anyone noticing, what else is down there?
We call on the Municipality to take immediate action against the owner of this property (through the application of its Problem Property By-Law if need be) to ensure the safety of the residents of Stellenbosch. The quarry must be rehabilitated and filled.
Many complaints have been made over the years against the property to no avail. From the Municipality’s own statement on 25 October 2022, it is apparent that the property owner and his son have been neither cooperative nor responsive to the Municipality’s interventions. Two lives have been lost and drastic action is now needed!
News article on the students found dead at the bottom of the quarry:
Article on the effect of the property’s degradation of the infrastructure in the surrounding area:
https://www.matiemedia.org/vacant-land-on-bird-street-causes-infrastructural-damage/
The Issue
On 24 October 2022, the bodies of two students were found in a gaping marshland on Bird Street in the Stellenbosch City Centre. This property, which spans over an entire block, started out as an excavation site some 30 years ago with construction having been abandoned by the owner who, to this day, continues to attempt to have a 5-storey development (which violates the city’s by-laws) approved by the City Council.
This treacherous marshland compromised the boundary wall of its neighbour, the local Catholic Church. Then on 21 October 2022, two students went missing - only to have their lifeless bodies discovered in their car 3 days later at the bottom of this death trap of a property. It’s assumed that while driving back late at night, the couple took the corner of the road too early and landed up at the bottom of the quarry. If an entire car could go missing in there for 3 days without anyone noticing, what else is down there?
We call on the Municipality to take immediate action against the owner of this property (through the application of its Problem Property By-Law if need be) to ensure the safety of the residents of Stellenbosch. The quarry must be rehabilitated and filled.
Many complaints have been made over the years against the property to no avail. From the Municipality’s own statement on 25 October 2022, it is apparent that the property owner and his son have been neither cooperative nor responsive to the Municipality’s interventions. Two lives have been lost and drastic action is now needed!
News article on the students found dead at the bottom of the quarry:
Article on the effect of the property’s degradation of the infrastructure in the surrounding area:
https://www.matiemedia.org/vacant-land-on-bird-street-causes-infrastructural-damage/
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 24 October 2022