The City of Cape Town has accepted a settlement offer by the Observatory Civil Association for the complete and final cessation of all legal action in relation to the River Club development matter. In terms of the settlement, the OCA will make a contribution to the legal costs of the City.
‘The City is pleased with this outcome and the clear message it conveys – that the City will always vigorously defend planning decisions taken correctly, and will act to protect Cape Town’s reputation as a leading global investment destination,’ said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
On Tuesday, 16 May 2023, the Supreme Court of Appeal refused the Observatory Civil Association (OCA) permission to appeal the Western Cape High Court’s order dismissing the OCA’s application to interdict the River Club development. The River Club development is now proceeding based on the conditions of its planning approval, along with the major economic, environmental and heritage benefits for Cape Town and its residents.
Benefits of the River Club development include:
- rehabilitating a portion of the Liesbeek River
- creating high-quality green open space
- establishing heritage infrastructure in partnership with First Nations groups
- creating more than 5 200 construction jobs and approximately 19 000 employment opportunities
- establishing public transport infrastructure
- injecting R4,5 billion of direct investment into the local economy; and
- delivering new residential accommodation, including affordable housing
