'Don't sell resort'
2005-06-30
NOT everybody is happy about the proposed sale of a portion of the Antoniesvlei Holiday Resort in Bainskloof by the Drakenstein Municipality for development.
One of the objectors is Pierre-Jean Gerber, ANC MP.
“For decades, before 1994, so-called 'non-whites' did not have access to the best beaches as those were restricted for 'whites," says Gerber.
“'Non-whites' had to be satisfied with special resorts that had been created for them - many of them in the mountains or bushes or strange uncomfortable rocky 'beaches'.
“Now that those former 'white sandy beaches' have been developed and became exclusive and expensive, all of a sudden developments are focusing on the 'non-white' resorts to develop.
“Antoniesvlei has been running at a loss for a long time. They are like graveyards, not supposed to make money, as it is a facility for the people, paid for from the budget of the Council, funded by the people!
“Furthermore, the portion that is now to be sold, is the portion that costs no money to run!
“The purchase price, to be paid by the prospective purchaser, will be used (hopefully) for maintenance of the remaining resort section.
“This will only last for a while and then pressure will again mount to sell the remaining property.
“Antoniesvlei needs to be better managed and there are many ways to improve the cash flow of the resort.
“Another worrying factor to me is that developers negotiated with officials from Council long before the tender was even advertised in the media.
“Apparently they want to build 70 up-market homes on the property.
“These kinds of negotiations are a grey area and one only has to read the front pages of the newspapers to see what this could lead to.
“In the summer, water has to be pumped from the municipal dam upwards to the resort, as Wellington already had a water problem.
“The sewage truck also has to be emptied daily, the sewage tanks - sometimes more than once.
“So the sewage from the 'proposed'’ 70 homes will have to be piped to Wellington, where the sewage problem already has a capacity problem.
“My property adjoins Antoniesvlei, so if I keep quiet about the proposed sale I could make a fortune in future. I, however, have to be able to sleep at night.
“For many poorest of the poor in our area Antoniesvlei is a highlight on their annual calendar.
“They save money for the whole year to go there for a day or two over the festive season.
“If you can sleep comfortably with the thought of eventually closing this facility, in the light of many of the other similar facilities in the Western Cape that have been snapped up by developers, I have to oppose it.”
A spokesperson for Drakenstein Municipality would not comment, as the proposed sale must still be tabled before Council with all the comments and objections received before 9 June. Tenders from developers who wish to purchase the land, close on 30 June.
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