Former anti-apartheid cleric Allan Boesak is to use his considerable oratorical powers to persuade community and church leaders to support a golf and lifestyle estate development near George.
The Lagoon Bay Lifestyle Estate is chaired by South Africa’s former ambassador to Washington and now prominent businessman Franklin Sonn. It has split the local coloured community, some of whose members fear it will benefit only a chosen few.
In the latest of several visits, Boesak is scheduled to address meetings and give a Sunday sermon on poverty in George in two weeks’ time.
”He has very actively lobbied for the development,” said one George resident.
Boesak, who is still remembered in the area for his public stance against the forced removals in Lawaaikamp in the 1980s, was nominated by ”the community” to represent their interests in the Lagoon Bay development, said his wife and spokesperson Elna Boesak. She promised that Boesak’s role would be clarified at a later stage. ”We won’t respond to speculation,” she said.
However, the residents of George’s townships are far from unanimous. Some complain that the developers anointed hand-picked individuals; others insist 62 community organisations were invited, but boycotted development briefings and public meetings.
”I want to talk to [Boesak]. He must be very careful,” said Freddie Arries, chairperson of the Pacaltsdorp Community Forum. ”I’m a bit worried … they must not misuse Dr Boesak.”
Arries has had his confrontations with developers. The forum approached the Cape High Court three times to regain access to the Gwaing river mouth after Aqua Eden Holiday Resort barred free entry to the traditional festive season leisure site.
”I’m not against development, [but] we are sick and tired of being the garden boys,” he said. ”We want a win-win situation where the developers and the community, not just a few people, can benefit.”
Unemployment in black communities in greater George ranges from 38% to 42% and the explosion of estate developments has pushed up land values beyond the means of emerging farmers and working class residents.
”The 62 groups of organised emerging farmers are desperate for land, but they have to compete at the same price levels as developers,” said Angela Conway of the Southern Cape Land Committee, which last year took its concerns to Parliament’s land and agriculture committee.
The Lagoon Bay website offers potential investors a ”pristine lifestyle experience” set amid ”ancient Outeniqua mountains, steeped in San people history”, river, beach, lagoon and ”the mighty Indian Ocean, super highway of migratory whales and dolphins”.
For impoverished communities, it holds the promise of about 4 000 jobs during construction and almost 1 300 permanent jobs once it is completed.
Greater George can expect an inflow of R12-billion over 10 years, according to developers.
In addition, Lagoon Bay-linked Hoogekraal Treasury Trust promises millions of rands for projects through its community, environment, education and agriculture public benefit organisations. An initial R35-million is expected from the sale of residential units. The trust is expected to receive between R5-million and R8-million through 2,5% of all resales, according to a socio-economic impact study commissioned for the development.
The Anglican Bishop of George, Donald Harker, remained sceptical about golf course-linked community development initiatives on the Cape south coast, describing them as ”potential Trojan horses”.
”I say yes to development — providing there’s something for the whole community. Community development cannot simply be a one-off event. It must help communities to get out of the quagmire of hopelessness by, for example, providing education opportunities for children.”
There are already 18 golf course developments in the southern Cape between Mossel Bay and the Eastern Cape border. Permission is pending for 33 in the Western Cape.
The Western Cape cabinet has voiced its own misgivings about promises of job creation, noting that employment drops off drastically after construction, and that rapidly increasing land prices adversely affect transformation.
”Cabinet believes this will ensure that land reform programmes will be stymied and, therefore, our target of 30% land transformation by 2014, will not be reached,” a Cabinet statement said in December. And as severe water shortages and restrictions rack the province, MECs were ”horrified” to learn that a golf course uses up to two million litres of water a day.
A public comment process is under way to determine whether a moratorium should be imposed on golf and polo estate developments, as recommended in a report, Rapid Review of Golf Course and Polo Field Developments, commissioned late last year by the Western Cape’s environmental affairs department.
Lagoon Bay is still awaiting development approval for two golf courses, 900 residential units, a 150-room five-star hotel, spa, conference and shopping facilities.
Developer Werner Roux insisted he had done everything possible to bring positive development to the area. It had taken three years to prepare for the development, consult communities and establish the trust.
”We’ve played open cards,” he said. ”What are the criticisms? I’m happy to answer them in public.”