Activists, indigenous leaders and locals gathered outside the Brass Bell restaurant in Kalk Bay on Saturday 2 April, in protest of the Brass Bell restaurant owner’s intention to build a wooden deck at the children’s tidal pool.
Traci Kwaai, whose family has been living in Kalk Bay for six generations, said the beach was a big part of her life.
“The owner of the establishment said that the plan was to build a deck to provide people with an area to sunbathe without getting covered with sea sand. The point of the beach is to sit in the sand.”
She added that the beach belonged to the public.
“I’m a sixth generational fisher child, my family has lived in Kalk Bay for 200 years. My great-great grandfather died on the beach right next to where the building is here. So, this place is part of the very essence of who I am. If you don’t know this, the pool the little children are playing in was built for the indigenous people as fish traps to catch fish.”
Kwaai said growing up under apartheid, she was only allowed to swim in the tidal pools at age 16.
“The building next door was a beach and when we were allowed to come onto this space, I was 16-years-old when I was allowed to swim in these pools. “And over the last 20 years the beach just started disappearing with gazebos and buildings and extensions to this restaurant. And the people and the public were pushed back, I don’t come to swim here anymore because I don’t feel welcome.”
She added that pushing people away means excluding certain people and erasing certain communities.
“People are told that the owner is making improvements to the place but to the benefit of who? I want to encourage you all to occupy the beach, to bring your families here and come and picnic here. I want you to keep the City of Cape Town accountable, they are there to serve you.”
Faez Poggenpoel, Trustee of the Fisherman’s residents and harbour trust as well as a representative for the small scale Fisher’s Association in Kalk Bay, says it is important for a meeting to take place with the City.
“We want a meeting with the authorities and they need to give clear instruction to the Brass Bell what they need to do and the City needs to open up this space so it’s more of a public facility again.”
Poggenpoel says the community is fed up with people who look after their own interests.
“What this horrible situation has done, it has brought together the entire Kalk Bay community together. Kalk Bay is fed up and wants change but on Kalk Bay’s terms… What we see here is the perfect example of capitalism unchecked. Capitalism unchecked will consume everything.”
Fond memories of swimming around the pavilion makes him think of how his children would not be enjoying the same spaces, says Poggenpoel.
“I have beautiful memories of swimming around this pavilion and our children will never experience it. This is nothing against the staff who we know, we grew up together. It is what is right for Kalk Bay and Kalk Bay needs to be part of the decision-making process, especially around public amenities that affect our lives. The City needs to be held accountable, we need to upgrade the pool we need to open up the space so that our families can come and enjoy it.”
Edwin Angless, spokesperson for the Liesbeek Action campaign, said it is important to protect the space.
“To those of you who don’t know we’ve been fighting with developments on the banks of the Liesbeek River in Observatory for four years. And just two weeks ago, we succeeded in getting a High Court interdict to stop that development from going ahead.
“So, there is solidarity from the Liesbeek action campaign. As the previous speakers said we are fighting the greed of capitalists. They want to destroy an area which has the most important and tangible heritage in the whole of South Africa.”
Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, said the land is a registered erf that belongs to Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
“The Brass Bell has a lease agreement with Prasa for parts of the erf. The beach area in question falls within the erf. We immediately engaged with Prasa on the matter and went on site on Wednesday 30 March with a representative from the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Oceans and Coasts Environmental Compliance.”
The City’s Coastal Management Branch has since requested the Brass Bell to cease all construction activities. “The City’s building inspector has served a notice on the owner of the Private Entity (Brass Bell) in terms of Sections 4 and 12 of the NBR on Friday, 1 April 2022. Building plans will therefore be required to be submitted.
Andrews added the City adopted a coastal by-law in 2020 which makes specific provisions to protect and ensure the right of public access to the entire coastline, and coastal amenities.
“This includes the Kalk Bay Tidal Pools and the Kalk Bay harbour. The Brass Bell has been formally informed that should they prevent public access they will be served with a legal notice in terms of the Coastal By-law. The City protects public access to the tidal pools, shoreline and harbour area at Kalk Bay by enforcing the provisions of this by-law.”
People’s Post phoned the restaurant numerous times to get a comment from the owners.
However, we were informed that they were not available.
People who answered the phone calls also refused to provide cellphone numbers.
