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On behalf of the Goringhaicona Khoena Royal Kingdom and the broader indigenous community, we register our strongest possible objection to the current development proposal for the Oude Molen Eco‑Village in Pinelands. This plan—masquerading as a “public participation” exercise—represents an unacceptable overdevelopment that will irrevocably damage one of Cape Town’s most cherished green belts, undermine sustainable‑living practices, and trample our cultural and ancestral heritage.
1. Threat to Eco‑Village Character and Public Open Space
● Unique Aesthetic & Green Ethos: Oude Molen Eco‑Village is internationally recognized for its low‑impact architecture, permaculture gardens, and communal ethos. Large‑scale construction will destroy its charm, block sunlight, and overwhelm its delicate ecological balance.
● Public Accessibility: This site has long served as a publicly accessible open space—used by families, walkers, and school groups. The proposed built form will arrogate what was once communal land, denying citizens their rightful enjoyment of Cape Town’s green lungs.
2. Failure of “Public Participation” and By‑Law Compliance
● Token Engagement: Although municipal bylaws mandate meaningful consultation,
years of back‑and‑forth have yielded no substantive revisions. Instead, a cursory
comment period was followed by an environmental impact study designed to
rubber‑stamp the developer’s objectives.
● Procedural Irregularities: Key notices were poorly advertised, and many local stakeholders—particularly indigenous community members—were neither adequately informed nor enabled to participate. This contravenes the City’s own Land Use Planning By‑Law and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations.
3. Disregard for Indigenous and Cultural Rights
● Constitutional Protections: Sections 211–212 of the Constitution, as well as national Traditional Leadership and Cultural Affairs legislation, affirm our right to protect sites of ancestral and spiritual importance.
● Cultural Heritage at Risk: Oude Molen sits on land historically used by the Goringhaicona for seasonal ceremonies and community gatherings. The development would obliterate sacred spaces, severing physical and spiritual ties that pre‑date colonial boundaries.
4. No Local Benefit, Only Profits for Developers
● Economic Exclusion: Despite repeated assurances, no measures have been proposed to direct economic gains back into the indigenous community. The plan prioritizes profit over people and fails to allocate a single square meter for local cultural programming or community‑run initiatives.
Demand for Immediate Action
We therefore demand that the City of Cape Town:
1. Halt all approvals and suspend the environmental impact process until full, genuine consultation is conducted.
2. Undertake a comprehensive social and cultural heritage impact assessment, led by qualified Indigenous experts, to identify and protect sites of significance.
3. Redesign the proposal in partnership with the Goringhaicona Khoena Royal Kingdom to reflect sustainable‑living principles and guarantee public space retention.
4. Ensure economic empowerment by reserving at least 30 % of any new development’s commercial space for Indigenous‑owned enterprises and cultural activities.
This is a non‑negotiable call to protect Cape Town’s green heart and honour our constitutionally enshrined rights. Should the City proceed without addressing these demands, we will pursue all legal and administrative remedies available, including judicial review and appeals to the national Department of Environmental Affairs and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission).
We trust that you will treat this objection with the urgency, respect, and integrity it warrants, and invite you to convene a meeting with the Goringhaicona King and Council within fourteen days to chart a path forward.
Yours sincerely,
Khoebaha Aran
Paramount Chief, Goringhaicona Khoena Royal Kingdom
