GEORGE NEWS - The proposed sale of five properties owned by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) in Hansmoeskraal has sparked strong opposition from members of the Pacaltsdorp community.
The properties, with a combined value of R6.7m, are portions of Farm 202 in Hansmoeskraal: Portion 1, valued at R1.6m; Portion 2 (R1.05m); Portion 73 (R400 000); Portion 12 (R3m); and Portion 83 (R650 000).
According to Blanche Benjamin, chairperson of the Gwaiing Action Group, the matter of the sale of these properties first came to the fore in 2023 when the group submitted an objection and petition to the GRDM. Another objection was lodged in response to an advertisement in June this year of the properties’ intended alienation.
She said Portion 12 has special significance as it features Osgat, also known as Uitspan, a large sandbank along the river that has been frequented by local families and fishermen for generations. “This area is of great historical and recreational importance to the Pacaltsdorp community. It is part of the fabric of our lives.”
She said the people gain access to Osgat over Portion 12, as well as from the direction of Syferfontein. If the property lands in private hands, they would lose historic access to the river, as has happened with other coastal developments.
“We were shocked when we saw the alienation advertised again. We have had no response to our 2023 objections, but did have opportunities to meet with officials from the Garden Route District Coastal Access Task Team over our struggles with access. On-site visits would have been done for officials to see first-hand where the problems persisted, but these never took place. Everything just went quiet until the recent advertisement.”
Blanche Benjamin from the Gwaiing Action Group. Photo: Alida de Beer
In response to these concerns, Dr Nina Viljoen, head of environmental management at GRDM, said any of the municipality’s properties where coastal access to fishers was available, currently and historically, will be alienated with a condition in the deed of sale to give a public right of way through Hansmoeskraal Farm 202 (Portion 1).
Dr Nina Viljoen, head of environmental management at GRDM. Photo: Supplied
“It will be a legislative requirement according to the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act. Consultations will ensue with George Municipality’s Planning Services to see how they can assist in the design of the layout of the servitude, as well as guidance on the applicable procedures around this.”
Viljoen said the circumstances of the coastal access challenges at the locations reported to the GRDM by fishers and the public are currently under investigation by the coastal access task team.
“This team was established to collaboratively find solutions to the coastal access challenges along the Garden Route District coastline, and members consist of the local and district municipalities, the provincial and national governments, as well as other key stakeholders on the ground.”
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