Judgement on the Botmaskop development is expected to be delivered on Wednesday 4 December, but the complainant needs financial support.
The Stellenbosch Interest Group (SIG) turned to the Western Cape High Court to obtain a temporary interdict against further construction work on the building site on the slopes of Botmaskop mountain.
According to SIG chairperson Ronnie Donaldson, the costs of the court case amount to thousands of rands.
The organisation called on Stellenbosch residents and others who are opposed to the development to lend a hand by making a financial contribution.
“The SIG believes that it can win the case, but it will need substantial support from concerned citizens,” the group said in a statement this week.
“SIG has spent over two decades safeguarding the natural and cultural heritage of Botmaskop. Despite initially supporting the development of a small eco-tourism resort under strict conditions, SIG has in recent years faced challenges as unauthorised and expanded development plans that violate environmental and heritage regulations came to the fore.
“Through appeals and legal actions SIG aims to overturn unlawful environmental authorisations, ensure compliance with public participation requirements, and preserve Stellenbosch’s unique landscapes for future generations.
“SIG calls on the general public to join the movement to save Stellenbosch’s heritage. By donating to SIG, the general public will help achieve these goals.”
In its court application the interest group claims decisions on the project by the Stellenbosch Municipality and Anton Bredell, provincial minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, should be set aside.
SIG questions the public participation process of the recent land exchange between the developers and the municipality, along with the environmental authorisation for the project.
An official complaint was also lodged by GOOD councillor Marius van Stade, in which he asked Bredell to investigate the public participation process for the project. According to GOOD they received a response from Bredell on Monday 20 May.
The response read: “The current council has not taken any decision around a so-called ‘land swap’. An application was received but has not been approved by council as the matter has been published for an open and comprehensive public participation process, which was advertised on 19 April 2024 with a closing date of 17 May 2024.”
As the land swap has since been approved by the Stellenbosch municipal council, Eikestadnuus reached out to Bredell’s office for comment. No feedback has been received.
SIG, as well as Van Stade, allege the public participation process was flawed, as the municipality published the notice for public comment in Die Burger, a for-paid regional title, instead of the free local newspaper, Eikestadnuus.
“As GOOD we are concerned residents were not afforded a fair opportunity to participate in the public participation process,” Van Stade told Eikestadnuus in a statement.
SIG maintains all impact studies must be completed before any further construction goes ahead.
- For more information and details on how to donate to the cause, visit the Stellenbosch Interest Group’s page on Facebook.
