Hout Bay – what now and what’s next?

WHEN the recent fires at Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay destroyed hundreds of homes, World of Birds management assisted in the rescue of property and gave support in every way possible, like many other residents and employers of staff from the informal settlement and, very generously, the City of Cape Town.

This was not reciprocated by a large number of the affected and impatient temporary homeless and sheltered, who vented their negotiable grievances and impatience with the slow progress of rebuilding, and resorted to the most frightening violent protests over three days and nights.

They resorted to acts of destruction, holding the entire community of Hout Bay to ransom by burning tyres, damaging the road, felling large trees, smashing the traffic lights and blocking all in and out roads with the construction material which the City had supplied.

I, as owner of the World of Birds, had to safely park my car far from the blockades and take the risk of venturing past to walk through the blockade at the Valley Road circle where the protesters stopped everybody. I was threatened with violence when I insisted on pushing through, as I had 3 000 birds and animals waiting to be cared for. We don’t care, they said, and nobody is going to work. I forced my way through to the safety of the row of law enforcement officers, who watched the proceedings from a distance.

Was this going to be a day of tragedy for the World of Birds, with not enough staff to care for so many animals? Those who had come from the southern suburbs eventually managed to get through the static and blocked traffic. Some workers from Imizamo Yethu took a great risk and later in the morning managed to sneak away from the blockades, and very essential assistants from Hangberg were eventually guided by telephone to remote, hidden pedestrian pathways to find their way to the park.

School holidays had started and the weather was perfect for outings. The roads were closed and the disturbing news in the media kept visitors away from Hout Bay. The detrimental financial effect on the hundreds of people who couldn’t go in or through or out of Hout Bay, and the damage to all business which had to stay closed due to threats of violence, or lack of staff, is a serious setback for the decent ratepayer community. Why? Because of grievances from the people who had so generously been supported when they were in great need. After these protests, will there be a “better life for all?”

WALTER MANGOLD World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary Hout Bay