What the Developer proposed… 

The proposed developer, Insight Property Developers, is planning a double volume shopping mall with an adjacent car park and taxi rank. The “footprint” of the mall is 9090 square metres, to be located on the South Eastern corner of the vlei. This will obliterate the view of the vlei for Grassy Park residents, and will destroy any remnants of the critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. The Mall will swallow most of the useable portion of the land adjoining the vlei on the Grassy Park side. The mall development is irreversible (unlike the type of development being proposed by the People’s Plan). The damage to the water systems would be permanent.

The shadow of the mall was first cast over the Princess Vlei in 1998, when Insight Property Developers made bid to buy the land from the City. At that time, the vlei had been degraded after years of neglect by the City authorities. This neglect began in the sixties, a symptom of the apartheid city managers’ callous disregard for the living environment of ‘coloured residents.’ It was made worse when Prince George Drive was built and rubble dumped around the vlei.

Developing the mall depended on subdividing, rezoning and selling the land. In 2002, Insight successfully applied for the land to be rezoned as commercial. In 2002, the Environmental Affairs and Development Planning issued a Record of Decision (RoD), valid for 4 years, setting out the environmental conditions that would have to be met by the developer.

In 2008, after a three year study established that the vlei contained Cape Flats Dune Strandveld and Sand Fynbos, which were unique to the area, the Cape Town Biodiversity Network declared it part of the Biodiversity Network. Local community member and conservationist, Kelvin Cochrane, partnered with SANBI and the City to lead a project to rehabilitate the vlei called ‘Dressing the Princess’. This included planting indigenous fynbos, removing alien plants, creating walkways and cleaning litter.

In 2009, Insight Property Developers applied to have the rezoning and RoD extended. The community rallied behind efforts to save the vlei, and opposed this. Based on public opposition and an environmental assessment, the Spatial Planning Environment and Land Use Management Committee (SPELUM) reversed their original recommendation and urged the City of Cape Town not to support the development. They declined to extend the commercial rezoning of the Vlei, thereby effectively putting an end to the developer’s bid.

In April 2012, the Western Cape Provincial Government ignored public opinion, and overturned the Spatial Planning Committee’s decision. The rezoning was extended, enabling the developer to continue with his bid. In response to this, concerned community members and environmentalists formed the Princess Vlei Forum to protect the vlei from this development, and to fight for the right of communities to decide on how our city’s natural resources should be used.

In September 2012, after years of investigation, Kelvin Cochrane uncovered irregularities and possible fraud in the development bid process. These were brought to the attention of the City in a meeting with Councillor Jeremiah Thuynsma, Chairperson of Subcouncil 9 and a member of SPELUM. The evidence was taken to both the National Prosecuting Authority.

On 30 September, MEC Bredell was quoted in the City Press as saying that the city had “made a mistake” in selling the land.

In February 2013, Cochrane laid charges of fraud against developers involved in the shopping mall bid (see Fraud charges laid against developers). This case is still being investigated by the Hawks. In July, in response to a query from our lawyers, the Mayor’s office indicated that the sale of the land would only proceed once these charges had been investigated and resolved.

In the year that followed, the PVF  held numerous meetings and community events on the vlei, and continued with efforts to rehabilitate the vlei. Thousands of people  signed the petition against the mall, wrote letters, and voiced their opposition. Our repeated efforts to meet with the Mayor were unsuccessful, however. The City authorities  cited the Hawks investigation as a reason to refuse to meet with us, or allow us to address Council structures,  although the matter was not in court and is not sub judice.

The forum  also developed Community Vision in consultation with local community stakeholders to give a vision of how the Vlei could be developed to honour its historical, cultural and environmental significance and to serve our community for generations to come. In March 2013 year, we put forward a proposal to the World Design Capital 2014 to consolidated and develop this plan through a process of community consultation. This was shortlisted in the first round of assessment, and earmarked as a model for aspiring entrants (See Imagine Princess Vlei on WDC shortlist).  The project was initially denied a place on the final list, evidently because of the “legal dispute” surrounding the space. However, in April 2014r we were reinstated and given a place in the final programme.

In January 2014, in an interview with Argus reporter Rebecca Jackman, Nielson stated that the City was now ready to talk. Finally on March 22, 2014, the historic decision to scrap the plans for the mall was announced by Deputy Mayor Ian Nielson at the Princess Vlei Forum’s day of Action and Celebration.

On May 22, 2014, members of the Forum met with Alderman Belinda Walker and various members of the City Council. At that meeting, the City affirmed its commitment to working with the community to transform Princess Vlei. Since that time, we have been working with the City on designing a process of community engagement and collaboration between community Stakeholders, the City and Designers.

July 2014: Community workshop held to discuss the terms on which the Forum should work with the City

August 2015: City released a Draft Concept Development Framework  for Princess Vlei, based on the community vision. The Forum hosted a community workshop to obtain feedback on the vision.

December 9 2015: MOA signed with the City recognising the Princess Vlei Forum as a community partner

July 2016: The City’s released a finalised Conceptual Development Framework

July 2024: The Friends of Princess Vlei and the Princess Vlei Forum remain vigilant and active. Shoolchildren throng the Vlei on somedays as part of an extremely valuable youth programme. Hacks and cleanups are constant.

An the Blue Flag Beach? Well, it still receives the only full time post attention of a WESSA Head Office employee in the whole of the Western Cape. It does little to interact with any surrounding WESSA or local black and non-white communities although this is a key demand of FEE who fund WESSA’s Blue Flag beaches.

An attempt made to develop a WESSA Western Cape website independent from Head Office to help fundraise and present proposals to a City of Cape Town 5m grant facility for local environmental activism was delayed, delayed and then thwarted by Head Office.

The WESSA Western Cape Region information is disseminated purely from KZN. The last time the WESSA Western Cape membership area was updated was in 2017, showing the power imbalance of membership to what is now a highly professionalised, centrally controlled outfit.

When recent attempts were made to inform and assist Friends Groups to apply for significant capacity-building funding – many representing non-white memberships – through a WESSA Western Cape membership website and a Facebook Group this was ruthlessly closed down.

I guess Princess Vlei had better keep that Red Flag flying!

What the Developer Proposed…

The proposed developer, Insight Property Developers, has plans for a double-volume shopping complex with integrated parking facilities and public transport infrastructure. The development would occupy 9090 square metres on the South Eastern corner of the vlei, demonstrating poor stewardship meaning towards natural resources. This would severely impact the viewscape for Grassy Park residents and destroy remnants of critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. The mall would consume most of the usable land adjacent to the vlei on the Grassy Park side, creating permanent damage to vital water systems and ecosystems – a direct contradiction to sustainable development goals.

The mall’s shadow first loomed over Princess Vlei in 1998 when Insight Property Developers bid to purchase the land from the City. At that time, the vlei had deteriorated due to years of neglect by City authorities – a neglect that began in the 1960s, reflecting the apartheid regime’s disregard for the living environment of ‘coloured residents.’ The situation worsened with the construction of Prince George Drive and subsequent dumping of rubble around the vlei.

The mall development hinged on land subdivision, rezoning, and sale. In 2002, Insight successfully secured commercial rezoning. That same year, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning issued a Record of Decision (RoD), valid for 4 years, outlining environmental conditions for the developer to meet, particularly regarding climate change impact and renewable resources management.

In 2008, following a comprehensive three-year study that revealed unique Cape Flats Dune Strandveld and Sand Fynbos in the area, the Cape Town Biodiversity Network incorporated the vlei into its network. Local community member and conservationist Kelvin Cochrane partnered with SANBI and the City to spearhead a rehabilitation project called ‘Dressing the Princess.’ This initiative focused on sustainable development through indigenous fynbos planting, alien vegetation removal, pathway creation, and waste management.

In 2009, Insight Property Developers sought extensions for both the rezoning and RoD. The community united in opposition to protect their natural resources. Based on public resistance and environmental assessment findings, the Spatial Planning Environment and Land Use Management Committee (SPELUM) reversed their initial recommendation. They advised the City of Cape Town against supporting the development and declined to extend the commercial rezoning, effectively halting the developer’s plans. This decision demonstrated how human resources and community action could successfully advocate for environmental conservation.

In April 2012, the Western Cape Provincial Government disregarded public sentiment and overturned the Spatial Planning Committee’s verdict, extending the rezoning. This decision undermined community stewardship meaning and control over natural resources, allowing the developer to proceed with their plans despite widespread opposition to the project that threatened sustainable development goals.

In September 2012, after extensive investigation, Kelvin Cochrane exposed concerning irregularities and potential fraud in the development bid process. These findings were presented to the City during a meeting with Councillor Jeremiah Thuynsma, who chaired Subcouncil 9 and served on SPELUM. The evidence was subsequently submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority for review.

By month’s end, MEC Bredell acknowledged in the City Press that the city had “made a mistake” in selling the land, highlighting the importance of responsible human resources management in land-use decisions.

In February 2013, Cochrane initiated fraud charges against developers involved in the shopping mall bid, a case that remains under Hawks investigation. The Mayor’s office later confirmed that land sale proceedings would be suspended pending the investigation’s resolution, demonstrating the complex intersection of development and renewable resources management.

Throughout the following year, the Princess Vlei Forum (PVF) demonstrated remarkable commitment to climate change awareness and environmental protection. They organised numerous community gatherings and rehabilitation initiatives at the vlei. Public opposition grew substantially, with thousands signing petitions and voicing concerns. Despite repeated attempts to engage with the Mayor, their requests for meetings were denied, with officials citing the ongoing Hawks investigation as justification, though the matter wasn’t sub judice.

The forum developed a comprehensive Community Vision through consultation with local stakeholders, emphasising sustainable development principles and the vlei’s historical, cultural, and environmental significance for future generations. In March 2013, they submitted a proposal to the World Design Capital 2014, aiming to refine this plan through community engagement. The proposal earned initial recognition, being shortlisted and highlighted as an exemplary model for other entrants. Though initially excluded from the final selection due to the “legal dispute” surrounding the space, the project was ultimately reinstated in April 2014, securing a place in the final programme. This recognition validated the community’s commitment to preserving natural resources while promoting sustainable development that respects both environmental and social needs.

In January 2014, during an interview with Argus reporter Rebecca Jackman, Nielson indicated the City’s readiness for dialogue regarding sustainable development of the area. The historic announcement to abandon the mall development plans came on March 22, 2014, when Deputy Mayor Ian Nielson addressed the Princess Vlei Forum’s Day of Action and Celebration, emphasising the importance of natural resources preservation.

On May 22, 2014, Forum representatives convened with Alderman Belinda Walker and City Council members to discuss stewardship meaning and community involvement. The City reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with local stakeholders in transforming Princess Vlei into a model of sustainable development goals implementation. Since then, efforts have focused on establishing frameworks for community engagement and partnership between residents, City officials, and design professionals.

July 2014: A community workshop explored parameters for Forum-City collaboration, focusing on climate change mitigation and environmental protection.

August 2015: The City unveiled a Draft Concept Development Framework for Princess Vlei, reflecting community aspirations for renewable resources management. The Forum facilitated a community workshop to gather feedback on the proposed vision.

December 9, 2015: A Memorandum of Agreement was signed, formally recognising the Princess Vlei Forum as a community partner in sustainable development.

July 2016: The City released the finalised Conceptual Development Framework, incorporating human resources and community input.

July 2024: The Friends of Princess Vlei and Forum maintain their vigilant stewardship. The youth programme draws numerous schoolchildren, while regular maintenance activities continue unabated.

Regarding the Blue Flag Beach initiative, it remains under the exclusive oversight of a WESSA Head Office employee – the only such position in the Western Cape. Despite FEE’s emphasis on inclusive community engagement, interaction with local WESSA branches and historically disadvantaged communities remains minimal.

An initiative to develop an independent WESSA Western Cape website, aimed at fundraising and accessing City of Cape Town environmental grants, faced repeated delays before being ultimately blocked by Head Office.

WESSA Western Cape information now flows exclusively from KZN headquarters. The regional membership database hasn’t been updated since 2017, reflecting the centralisation of power within what has become a highly professionalised organisation.

Recent efforts to support Friends Groups – many representing diverse communities – in accessing capacity-building funding through a regional website and Facebook presence were systematically dismantled.

In light of these developments, Princess Vlei’s community must maintain its steadfast commitment to environmental protection and inclusive governance!