South African National Parks (SANParks) is finalising a second tender for the rebuilding and operating of the Rhodes Memorial Restaurant and Tea Room.
SANParks shared this news with People’s Post this week, adding that the body responsible for managing South Africa’s national parks was in the final stages of assessing the tender’s viability regarding the rebuild, tenure, and return on investment.
“SANParks can communicate further once this process (including water connections, sewerage systems, road maintenance, and the revamping of the parking area) has been finalised locally and approved by our delegated authority and National Treasury,” says Lauren Clayton, Regional Communications Manager: Cape Region.
The heritage building was severely damaged in a wildfire that broke out on the slopes of Table Mountain on Sunday 18 April 2021.
Located within Table Mountain National Park, the tea room is under the management of SANParks but the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is the custodian of the land.
Clayton says the first tender for rebuilding and operating was “subsequently” put out.
“But there were too few respondents, which meant that the process needed to be started from scratch again. As a Schedule 3A public entity, SANParks is required to put out all commercial opportunities in national parks in an open tender process once approval has been obtained from National Treasury,” says Clayton.
When People’s Post last reported on the tea room’s fate just over a year ago, it was still not a done deal that the heritage site would be rebuilt.
In a media statement released in December 2021, SANParks stated that a bill of quantities (a list of materials and services required to perform a project) was being drafted by the SANParks appointed architect and technical department. Once completed, it would be submitted to the insurer. Three months later, SANParks told People’s Post that the bill of quantities was still a subject of discussion with the insurer representative, “including the rebuilding of the Rhodes Memorial Tea Room”.
This week, Clayton confirmed that the funds claimed from insurance have been received. For the first time, SANParks also went on record, saying that the tea room will be rebuilt.
“(The funds) are earmarked for repairs and rebuilding which is required, particularly for the bulk services. The restaurant will be rebuilt, and strict measures will be in place for whoever is allocated the tender to be mindful of its heritage status,” says Clayton.
Last week, SANParks and volunteers such as the Friends of Rhodes Memorial and SANParks Honorary Rangers, were seen cleaning up the site which had become overgrown with weeds.
The process of replacing the black plastic sheeting – which after two years of its initial placement had become weatherworn – also began last week.
In stark contrast, the reconstruction of Mostert’s Mill, which was damaged in the same fire, is nearing completion.
Within a few days of the blaze, Friends of Mostert’s Mill (FoMM) began to rally behind the restoration of the heritage building, raising funds and overseeing the reconstruction process.
Andy Davies, chair of Friends of Table Mountain (FoTM), says they are very disappointed and frustrated with the slow progress with the tea room. He says until People’s Post informed FoTM of the two tender processes, they had not been aware of either.
“It is an important tourism attraction and can create a number of jobs for people in the tourism industry and it would certainly act as a good way to alleviate the pressure on other tourist hubs like Signal Hill and Lion’s Head,” says Davies.
He adds that FoTM believes the entire Rhodes Memorial precinct has a lot of potential and would like to see it turned into a tourism hub.
“We should have a mountain biking hub there. We would like to see some of the heritage celebrated, the original Settlers’ heritage being the King’s Blockhouse and the Khoisan heritage. It would be an ideal place because it is very accessible,” says Davies.
Gabriel Clark-Brown, chair of Friends of Rhodes Memorial (Form), says he is not buying SANPark’s “latest spin”. He claims in the two years since the fire, there has been a folly of poor if no communication between SANParks and the public.
Referring to the first tender process, he says it was a surprise to hear that there had been one.
“It wasn’t advertised properly in any real public sphere and I would like to know how SANParks actually do their tender process.”
As to SANParks going on record that the rebuilding will go ahead, Clark-Brown says he remains sceptical. He describes SANParks latest statement as a decoy.
“In saying one thing that the public would want to hear, but ultimately doing nothing, and passing the problem forward. They haven’t been transparent in advertising the tender, nor given any road map of how the tender process works, and when the restaurant will be complete.”
He adds that nothing is going to happen until the public comes to the restaurant and makes a lot of noise.
“I told SANParks that we will start a petition (to get the restaurant rebuilt), this is a way of responding.”
To sign the petition, go to the Friends of Rhodes Memorial Facebook page.
