Fisherhaven Academy, R100 and lack of public participation

Fisherhaven outside Hermanus was once known as a tranquil place because of its lagoon, abundant birdlife, fynbos, and village atmosphere. However, this changed in 2023 when residents in the lower block between China Marais, Protea and Keurboom Streets were informed via WhatsApp that construction of the Fisherhaven Academy would begin.

Residents have since questioned the extent to which the Fisherhaven community was consulted prior to construction. In particular, some residents say they were unaware of any process that meaningfully sought local input before the project proceeded.

Earthworks began shortly after, following a single meeting which, according to residents, focused primarily on construction timelines rather than on addressing concerns.

From October to mid-December, residents experienced ongoing construction noise, dust and heavy vehicle traffic. Generators reportedly operated late into the night. Dirt roads and lightly constructed tarred roads, not designed for sustained heavy use, deteriorated during this period.

The school opened as scheduled, with learners transported daily by bus from surrounding settlements. From early morning, nearby residents are exposed to increased noise levels, traffic congestion and the absence of buffer zones. Residents point to the lack of designated bus parking, limited facilities for drivers, and ongoing concerns relating to privacy, sanitation and safety.

Phase two of the development, which proposes expanding the school to approximately 1,120 learners, has intensified these concerns. Residents argue that there is limited capacity to accommodate additional traffic, noise and infrastructure strain. The proposed sports fields, intended to be shared with other schools over weekends and holidays, raise further questions about parking, access control and noise management, which residents say have not yet been adequately addressed.

Residents report being referred between officials, with limited clarity on responsibility or follow-up. The prevailing sentiment expressed by residents is not only one of poor communication, but of feeling unheard. Speed appears to have taken precedence over sensitivity, and process over people. Fisherhaven residents emphasise that they are not opposed to education, but to what they describe as inadequate planning, insufficient consultation and limited engagement.

What is the municipality’s position on public participation?

I recently contacted the Overstrand Municipality where I stated that the Mayoral Committee meeting from 2024 shows the transfer of a 3.9575-hectare plot of land, known as Erf 279 Fisherhaven, to the provincial government for R100 to ultimately build a school. I also commented how “a number of residents of Fisherhaven are very upset by this for a number of reasons, one being the destruction of the environment, noise pollution and a decrease in their housing value.”

I was sent a reply that contained a few documents, including a media inquiry issued by the Municipal Manager, Dean O’Neill, of the Overstrand Municipality in 2023. In this document, we were told that, in terms of Regulation 20 of the Municipal Asset Transfer Regulations, the transfer of municipal property to an organ of state is exempt from the public participation requirements set out in section 14 of the Municipal Finance Management Act. As a result, a formal public participation process was not legally required.

Even though this was the case, Council requested that public comment be invited via a newspaper advertisement. The proposed transfer of Erf 279 in School Street, Fisherhaven, for the development of a junior high school was advertised on 25 October 2023, with public comments invited until 24 November 2023.

Due to the requirement that the school be operational by 1 January 2024, approval was granted for construction to commence prior to the close of the public comment period.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) further stated that the project is being implemented through an intergovernmental partnership with Overstrand Municipality to address current capacity constraints and improve access to education. Technical planning processes, including land-use approvals, impact assessments, and building plans, were undertaken and approved during 2023.

Mayor Rabie

The reply also included a document showing that, at a special council meeting on 17 May 2022, councillors overturned an earlier decision to allow a technical school on Long Street in Sandbaai. Mayor at the time Annelie Rabie “indicated that she will approach the Premier of the Western Cape regarding the possibility of moving the school planned on this site, Erf 2825, in Sandbaai to Fisherhaven/Hawston area.”

The whole situation makes me wonder: where are these decisions being made? One of the problems in the slop that is South Africa is that decision-making is often far removed from local communities, and this appears to be another example. We are told by the municipality that “a public participation process is not necessary.” Huh?

This situation raises questions about how local democracy works in practice. Decisions that affect Fisherhaven appear to be made by a small group removed from the communities directly impacted. It is worth considering whether the Overstrand Municipality has fully taken the interests of Fisherhaven residents into account.

Interestingly, during the 2024 election campaign, the DA highlighted the Fisherhaven School as an achievement. This raises questions about how similar projects might be presented or prioritized in the Overstrand in 2026 and 2029.