Rates boycott is brewing in Hermanus

The Hermanus Beach Club, situated on the Sculphoek Peninsula, is facing a severe crisis. Residents report relentless littering, human defecation on their verges, illegal electricity connections, and even the public slaughter of a pig.

Frustrated and left with no options, the club is now considering a rates boycott or even a class action lawsuit if the Overstrand municipality does not step in soon. To understand how things reached this point, we need to go back in time.

The backstory

Since 1994, the South African government has failed to expand infrastructure, particularly housing, at a pace consistent with population growth. This shortfall has been compounded by decades of political promises of free goods and progressive ideology promoted by the ANC and her offshoots who worship the so-called “Freedom Charter”.

This recipe for disaster came to a head in 2018 in Hermanus. In response to protest action, Overstrand Municipality under Executive Mayor Dudley Coetzee assured land protestors that land would be given to them for housing.

Coetzee’s assurance did not work, and in 2018 land invasions occurred on the Sculphoek Peninsula. Thousands of people were bused in, informal shacks were erected, and the area expanded to an estimated 3,500 shacks housing around 10,000. The invasion led to the near-total destruction of the endangered milkwood forest, repeated episodes of unrest, and the burning of the swimming pool complex, library, and police station.

After this invasion, Rabcav (a joint venture between Cape Theme Parks and Cavcor) obtained a court interdict to stop the illegal occupation, but the order was not effectively enforced. Authorities were either unable or unwilling to act decisively, and as a result the settlement continued to grow and the situation became increasingly difficult to control.

By 2019 the crisis had escalated significantly, prompting then Premier Helen Zille to visit Hermanus where she facilitated a social compact involving political parties, community groups and business representatives. Agreements were reached to stop further illegal occupation and to create a plan for development of the land, with an understanding that these commitments would be implemented.

Among those who participated were representatives from the municipality, political parties including the DA, ANC and ACDP, community organisations such as Overstrand Unite, Afriforum, Zwelihle Renewal, and the Hermanus Business Chamber.

Despite these agreements, conditions on the ground did not improve. The situation continued through the early months of 2020 when wider national disruptions slowed public engagement but did not halt the occupation. Over the following years the land remained under pressure and governance challenges became more visible even under subsequent mayors Rabie and Klaas.

Schulphoek today?

Today, in 2026, the Schulphoek conflict has evolved into nothing short of a daily crisis of legal failure, political decision-making, and governance breakdown. Unpaid municipal debt in the area reached R53 million in 2025 alone, while the Land Party has gained influence by promising to cancel municipal service debts.

Looming rates boycott

In the midst of this ongoing chaos sits the Hermanus Beach Club, which borders Schulphoek. On 18 March 2026, a meeting was held with Mr. Dennis Hendriks, Principal Engineer of the Project Management Unit, and Ms. Abigail Jacobs of the Overstrand Municipality to provide an update on the Schulphoek Housing Project.

Key members of the Beach Club were joined by the leadership of the Overberg District of the VF Plus, including Councillor Cuan Elgin and Councillor Malcolm Grimbeek.

During the meeting, Beach Club representatives highlighted the challenges they face, including relentless littering, defecation on residents’ verges, numerous illegal electricity connections, and even the public slaughtering and dismemberment of a pig.

They raised urgent questions about when the municipality will provide proper cleanup services for the 324 ratepayers in the estate, and when Law Enforcement’s Anti-Land Invasion Unit will act to stop further expansion of the shacklands.

The Schulphoek Housing Project was also discussed. The Beach Club expressed concern that progress is too slow, given the ongoing issues they face every day. Officials explained that compliance with certain legislation is required, meaning the time frame outlined in the first draft report remains in effect.

In closing, the Hermanus Beach Club made it clear that they are considering further actions if the situation does not improve soon, including a rates boycott or a class action lawsuit to compel the municipality to enforce its bylaws and national laws.

We contacted the Overstrand Municipality for comment on the rates boycott and possible class action lawsuit, but they declined to comment.