Chapmans Peak reaching out into the ocean encloses Hout Bay and forms part of the Natural World Heritage Site that is the Table Mountain National Park. Chapman's Peak Drive, which you can just see in the photo, is a toll road which is administered by Entilini, a rather shadowy company that has taken some liberties in the past with its concession. Yesterday Capetonians were outraged when news broke of a proposed R54 million office block to be built in the Table Mountain National Park to house a bunch of road-toll officials with large, large egos - an an eye on possible high rent tenants, who knows. And guess who finances most of it? Us, the tax-payers! It is absolutely outrageous! My first thoughts on reading the article by Melanie Gosling in the Cape Times was "Is it April Fool's Day?" The office block will impinge on the integrity of our national park and seriously undermine the integrity of SANParks.(SANParks, go and read your mission statement on your website to remind yourself what you are all about!) It will be the beginning of the end of the war against the attrition of our beleaguered natural areas and I really, really hope that it will never happen.There will be a protest march on Sunday 22 January at 10 am, starting at both ends of Chapmans Peak Drive.
Cape Town Time
This is absurd. We drove over Chapmans Peak twice during our visit and it truly is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. They really don't need to construct a building in the park there. Wish I can protest along with you.
ReplyDeleteI just hope that there are some powerful lawyers in Hout Bay! Its annoying that one has to be so vigilant all the time - someone greedy is always popping up out of the woodwork to mess things up. Hope you had a great holiday in the Cape. Not sure where the weeks went - I am quite socialized out!
ReplyDeleteReally hope this does not go ahead! That is one of my favourite parts of the Cape peninsula, possibly the most beautiful drive! It would be such a shame to destroy the natural beauty...
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't see that article so this is the first I've heard of this scheme. It's an outrage!
ReplyDeleteJust put this up on G+. I'm shocked and horrified.
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