Princess Vlei, Let the people decide

Open letter to the Press and Mr Bredell

 There have been many voices over a protracted period of time calling for NO MALL AT PRINCESS VLEI, LET THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH PRINCESS VLEI! Somehow our politicians do not hear this call. Recently the Cape Town Municipality heard it and decided that the vlei should not be rezoned. The Western Cape Provincial Government decided to rezone the land, against the will of the people.  We have a plan for Princess Vlei and we will make it a reality!

Please hear the people of the immediate surrounds Grassy Park, Parkwood, Lotus River, Ottery, Retreat, Lavenderhill, Zeekoevlei, who also enjoy the support of communities in other parts of the City of Cape Town, when we say WE DON’T WANT A MALL.  A mall will destroy the small traders in our community who have lived and traded here for years and an obvious effect will be the creation of more unemployment in our communities. The vlei is an important heritage site for Khoisan peoples, let us show respect for that heritage. Shopping malls bring increasing access to credit, for communities that are already impoverished we do not need families to have more credit and thus more debt.  There are high unemployment rates and we see an increasing number of our people struggling to buy electricity to cook food.  A mall will not respond to our need for sustainable living. On the other hand, the community has been rehabilitating the vegetation of the vlei and hundreds of indigenous fynbos and trees have been planted, the City of Cape Town has assisted with this process. The community has a plan for the vlei.  The vlei has been home to many varied activities over the years, be it karate club practice on Saturday mornings, baptisms in the vlei on Sundays alongside of groups of people socialising. Very long ago people caught fish there and many a young boy learnt to fish in the vlei.  The environmental impact of a mall on the open space of the vlei is likely to be devastating. Although no formal environmental impact assessment was conducted, from my very basic understanding of ecology and nature though, it is not hard to see that the Princess is a key body of water in the South Peninsula. Princess Vlei is part of the south peninsula wetlands ecosystem that is providing much needed green space, trees and bird life for us to have the oxygen and plant life that we enjoy on the Cape Flats.  When there is construction on the vlei the trees and plants will have to go so that a mall can take its place. Immediately this means less oxygen because remember oxygen comes from plants. The bird life will move to find another space probably in the direction of Rondevlei, Sandvlei and Zeekoevlei etc.  The community activities that do take place at the vlei will cease and the positive impact that this green space currently has on the mental health of our communities will be no more. 

We have said THE PEOPLE WE WILL DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THE PRINCESS, please MEC Bredell, listen to the people, there are many varied interest groups who are opposed to this, why do you insist on pursuing it? The people shall govern and the people will decide what should happen on this land.  This is not your land, those in public office such as yourself are there to serve the public, look after public interest and act on behalf of the public. The public of the Cape Flats are saying we will decide what to do with Princess Vlei, we are moving forward with our plan and we invite the government to join us in implementing it.

Join on Facebook the Save Princess Vlei group, here is the link for anyone else who wishes to support this cause http://www.facebook.com/groups/116600385068084/

Sincerely,

Lorna Houston