Backing for Philippi rezoning

SOME farmers in the Philippi Horticultural Area have come out in surprise support of the rezoning of the area for development.

The Western Cape government has commissioned a study to look at options for the land. Marius Hestermann, a farmer in the area, said that at the moment the land was not viable and was not developing economically.

“I am a farmer in the area, and at the moment it’s not economical and it’s becoming very expensive,” he said.

His farm has been at the centre of attention in recent weeks after it emerged that developer Oaklands City plans to build 30 000 houses on the property. The Skaapkraal Civic and Environment Association opposed a rezoning decision by the City of Cape Town.

But Hestermann says he and other farmers in the area support the rezoning.

“We support this move because farming in Philippi is no longer viable due to theft and crime,” he

‘FARMING IN THIS AREA IS NO LONGER VIABLE DUE TO THEFT AND CRIME’

said. He added that things were so bad he had had to place security guards on his two farms.

The association said there seemed to be a number of farmers who had misunderstood their campaign.

“Farmers believe that we are taking away their right to sell their land, and that is not what we are doing,” said the association’s Susanna Colman. She said the association fully understood and respected the farmers’ decision.

“If farmers want to sell their land, that is perfectly fine. However, we believe that this is agricultural land,” she said.