Marian Nieuwoudt, mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment
“Sonwabe: past, present, future” – read more here.
The City, as part of the detailed planning for the repair and refurbishment of our coastal assets, resolved to demolish derelict and unsafe buildings along the Atlantic and False Bay coastlines, including the Sonwabe ablution facility.
The Sonwabe ablution facility had fallen into a state beyond repair, making it a danger to users. Council therefore resolved to demolish the ablution block.
The City has many coastal projects currently being planned or implemented along the Atlantic and False Bay coastlines.
These include planned repairs to Fisherman’s Lane, as well as new or upgraded facilities at Strandfontein, Muizenberg, and the redevelopment of facilities at Monwabisi.
It must be noted that the demolition of the buildings was advertised for comment to the public in March 2019 in the Cape Argus and Die Burger and no comments were received for the Sonwabe ablution facility during this public participation process.
Also worth noting is that the City never said that the Blue Flag Programme prohibited boat launching.
The sites mentioned are not suitably safe for public launching due to sea conditions. The City proposed Sonwabe as a launching facility as it is safer in terms of sea conditions, and as stated, it has been registered.
The estimated cost for the demolition of the derelict Sonwabe ablution facility is R188 000.