- The auction of a prime property lease on Fish Hoek Beach, where family-run restaurant The Galley had been operating for more than 20 years, went to the highest bidder on Thursday 23 November.
- It was one of several properties up for public auction via a mandated competitive bidding process.
- The auction of the lease prompted co-owner of the Galley, Mathea Eichel, to hold a prayer vigil on Wednesday 22 November while court papers were filed in the Western Cape High Court to stop the auction.
The auction of a prime property lease on Fish Hoek Beach, where family-run restaurant The Galley had been operating for more than 20 years, went to the highest bidder on Thursday 23 November.
It was one of several properties up for public auction via a mandated competitive bidding process.
The auction of the lease prompted co-owner of the Galley, Mathea Eichel, to hold a prayer vigil on Wednesday 22 November while court papers were filed in the Western Cape High Court to stop the auction.
“We don’t mind it going on auction but the way the City of Cape Town gave us only one month notice to prepare ourselves.
“We are trying to get an interdict so that the High Court can give us at least six months to prepare ourselves and process the whole thing,” Eichel told People’s Post on Wednesday.
“I am fighting not only for me but for the community, my staff and other women who do not get the opportunity to grow.
“I know my staff is very worried, asking whether they must look for another job,” she added tearfully.
Commenting on the legal action City of Cape Town spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said the matter was settled between the parties last week.
Tyhalibongo further added that the lease for the Galley expired in 2016.
“The lease was signed in 1997 for a period of 20 years.
“It expired at the end of 2016, following which it continued on a month-to-month basis.”
Meanwhile, Galley staff in fear of losing their jobs took to the street in protest.
Chanay Martin from Ocean View, who has worked at the Galley for seven years, said as a single parent she had many responsibilities.
“It is not right what they are doing because there are lots of people depending on this job.
“All of us are single parents who need to pay our rent,” she says.
“We are depending on this place and they want to come steal bread out of our children’s mouths. Today we are standing for rightousness.”
Cynthia Mashadana, a kitchen staff member, said she cannot sleep at night due to the constant worry.
“I feel so bad, every night we are crying.”
Princess Chantal Revell from the First Nation Khoisan Council, who attended the prayer meeting and protest, said it was strange that the City auctioned the lease after so many years,
“After all these years they want to auction the lease.
“First of all, it is a woman that is in business. She has put so much into the business and she has different families working for her, mostly women.
“And just to think there are people working 25 years here, what are their children going to eat?” She questioned whether there was a motive for putting the lease on auction.
“Is it a racial thing? Is it a case of where the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer?
“It is certainly not a case of a rainbow nation, it is still a case of oppressing the few and marginalised. The Galley is on a Khoisan heritage route, we should be part of all the opportunities that there are in this country for all South Africans, especially women.”
In a statement on Friday 24 November, Mayco member for economic growth James Vos said the prime beachfront commercial premises in Fish Hoek received an overwhelming response from the market.
“I was pleased to see the restaurant’s existing tenant take part in the auction. The tenant will be given notice, however, they will be able to trade at the premises during the crucial holiday season when tourists flock to our shores.”
Vos added that a 50m² shop in the prime location of Jubilee Square in Simon’s Town was also subject to a successful bid.
