Cape Argus

Temporary lull in Lion Street Bo-Kaap battle

- MARVIN CHARLES marvin.charles@inl.co.za

THE DEVELOPMEN­T in Lion Street in Bo-Kaap remains in limbo after the case against Bo-Kaap residents was postponed to February 25.

The developers also agreed to inform the community if they intend to move a large crane. They undertook to give the community 72 hours’ notice, which would allow the community to approach the court.

“Today is a victory, we are moving forward and I think together we can prove that something was not right,” said Osman Shaboodien, chairperso­n of the Bo-Kaap Ratepayers’ Associatio­n.

The battle in Bo-Kaap has been ongoing as residents continue to fight to preserve the heritage in the area.

First former mayoral committee member for Transport and Urban Developmen­t Brett Herron dropped a bombshell about the old St Monica’s nursing home, which was sold to developers despite a revisionar­y clause that required the site to be returned to the City when the home ceased to operate.

In November, fed-up residents closed in on the developmen­t in Lion Street and managed to stop a crane from entering the site. Bo-Kaap residents and the police clashed over the recent developmen­ts in the area and the police had to use tear gas to keep protesters at bay.

Bo-Kaap residents also requested that the Western Cape High Court review the City of Cape Town’s sale of land that is currently being developed.

The postponeme­nt of the case comes just a day after Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa announced that the process to have the Bo-Kaap declared a national heritage site would start early next year. He wants it declared a world heritage site.

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