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Fresh outcry via hotel development next to the historic Bo-Kaap Mosque

Fresh outcry via hotel development next to the historic Bo-Kaap Mosque

The Auwal Mosque in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, was founded in 1794 and is the oldest mosque in the country. Hotel development is planned right next to it. Photo: Matthew Hirsch.

  • A petition to support the preservation of the Auwal Mosque in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, has received more than 4,000 signatures.
  • This depends on the fact that a decision is expected whether hotel development should continue alongside the historical mosque.
  • The chairman of the Bo-Kaap Civic and Tariffpayers Association has warned that there will probably be a counter reaction if the development gets a green light.
  • Flyt real estate investments, the developers, say that they have “passed everything” in order to “accept all interested and affected parties”.

There was a new call to “save the Auwal Mosque”. This is followed by a meeting of the city’s advisory committee in Cape Town via a proposed six -story hotel behind the mosque in the historic suburb.

Last month, we reported About the arguments for and against the proposed hotel.

Well, in a fresh outcry ,, a petition was signed by more than 4,000 people who have an impact on hotel development just a few meters from the country’s oldest mosque.

“We are calling for the municipalities, the planning departments, the companies involved in this development and every Capetonian who appreciates the preservation of our cultural heritage to stop this development,” says the petition.

In a separate explanation, the Bo-Kaap Civic and Tariffpayers Association (BKCra) called for solidarity “with our struggle for the protection of our way of life, our living inheritance, practices and traditions”.

“This is a fight for Bo-Kaap for Auwal, if this is approved, it will open the locks,” it said.

The Civic Association asked the mayor to comply with his calling against the current iteration of development.

Commitment of the community

There were several attempts to develop the location because 2007 2007 was dismantled by Heritage Western Cape (HWC). The approval has determined conditions for the replacement structure.

Flyt bought the property in 2017, two years before Bo-Kaap was explained as Heritage Protection Overlay Zone (HPOZ). Flyt then made a revised development to the HWC for approval.

In 2019, the Civic appealed to the independent tribunal, which was passed by the MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, against the decision to approve a development proposal for a nine -story mixed use development in the Bo Kaap region.

The tribunal provided the parties a guideline to expose itself to an independent moderator. The relief process was carried out by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) with Flyt, HWC and the Civic Association.

In 2022, Flyt used plans for eight -story mixed development. This required a new public participation process. This design was then scaled on a six -story development that was approved by the municipal planning court The current calling leads in July last year.

In his submission to the City Appeals Panel, Flyt argued that “this project went beyond everything and our best tried to take up all interested and affected parties in a fair way while continuing to maintain a sustainable project”.

In a report by Sahra 2023, the process finally said “too positive results and could be used as a baseline for facilitating the favorable results to compensate for legislative procedures, development rights and the communities concerned”.

Sahra said that the threat from “marginalization and gentrification” and the “determination of the Bo-Kaap community to preserve its neighborhood” are both questions of public records.

It acknowledges that Bo-Kaap is exposed to extreme pressure from urban development due to its proximity to the CBD.

“The core of the relief was to ensure that such development rights have no negative effects on the urban substance of Bo-Kaap and that the community’s concerns had to be taken on board. It was gratifying to see the developer, its architects and representatives of the community, who dealt with each other, taking into account the relief in the spirit of positive engagement and trust. “

According to the Sahra, a total of five revised plans and designs were created.

In response to the latest petition, Zane de Decker, CEO of Flyt Property Investment, shared Groundup that they had already made significant design changes to the hotel.

“The problem is that the goal posts keep moving and Bo-Kaap Civic does not honor the agreement we have achieved during the relief process.”

He said that the Civic Association, which asked for more changes, was “simply inappropriate” and an “act of evil faith”.

Osman Shaboodien, chairman of the tariff players’ association, denied that the citizen had acted with evil. “We kept telling you that this page was not suitable for what was only intended because of the proximity of the Auwal Mosque. They only looked at brick and mortar and what the plan says. “

“There are many gray areas, but in the end we have to face the facts. The Auwal is the oldest mosque. The Auwal is a symbol of Islam in all of South Africa. It is the most valuable building, ”he said.

He said the petition was “important because it creates awareness”.

He warned that “a big counter reaction” was likely if there was a “negative” decision.

Next Steps

In a statement on social media, Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, said that he had received numerous news about the application for the proposed development.

Andrews said the city would not make any comments on this matter until the development application procedure was concluded.

“This process is only concluded when the final appeal has made a decision.

“According to the city’s urban planning, the appellate authority has 90 days to make a decision,” he said.

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