Owners of the Galley Restaurant in Fish Hoek are gearing up to appeal the City of Cape Town’s prime beach property lease auction, which’s leaving the business of over two decades without premises to trade.
Galley restaurant co-owner Mathea Eichel, who is expected to be out of the premises by May next year, says they have 21 days to appeal the process.
“I am not accepting what’s happened and I still feel there was an injustice.”
Eichel, who bid up to R210 000 for a new lease on Thursday 23 November, was left devastated after losing out to the highest bidder.
“I could only afford R120 000, but I went up to R210 000 to hopefully secure the place for my staff and the community to have a place to gather.
“They made it very exclusive for me to keep up with the bid.”
Imminent closer of the restaurant has “staff traumatised” with no future, says Eichel.
“What can I do? I’ve lost all my savings and am walking out with nothing.
“During covid, I had to put my pension and my husband’s pension into the business just to keep the place going and to pay my staff their wages. I’m still traumatised.”
The property tenant, who the City is yet to reveal, is expected to trade from June next year.
“I feel victimised. It has not been appreciated what a woman of colour has done in the community. “It is like pushing us out, like our forefathers went through, what more must we still go through?”
Meanwhile, residents had mixed reactions on social media.
“Shame, all the older folk who loved their Friday night get-togethers for dance have lost their place to go.
“All because a few people would rather have an expensive, upmarket place instead,” one resident wrote.
Another added: “It’s not the City of Cape Town’s proudest moment. All the locals from the valley and more modest areas will no longer have a local outlet they can afford.”
A third resident wrote: “Good business people know the value of that property. And will pay for it.”
City of Cape Town spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo says an appeal would be premature as the bid offer is yet to be accepted.
“The City still needs to receive the offer and present it to the delegated authority for consideration and decision. As such, any purported appeal at this stage would be premature.
“An appeal process would be premature, as the delegated authority must still make a decision on the bid offer.”
Tyhalibongo added that the City was not at liberty to divulge who had made the highest bid.
“The City still needs to make a decision on the offer, so we are not at liberty to provide personal and contact details at this stage.
“Following the successful conclusion of a lease agreement, the new tenant will be granted vacant occupation of the premises by 1 July 2024.”
