New hotel near SA’s oldest mosque a threat to our heritage

Lester Kiewit speaks with Osman Shaboodien, chairperson of Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association (BKCRA)

Listen to the interview in the audio below.

Bo-Kaap residents have been in ongoing battles to prevent gentrification and protect the heritage of their area.

Their latest battle is against plans to erect a hotel meters away from the Auwal Mosque, the first mosque established in the country.

ALSO READ:

The Municipal Planning Tribunal’s approved Flyt Property Investment’s development of a six story hotel at 150 Buitengracht Street.

Residents say they are not against development but do not want it to overshadow their rich heritage and history.

BKCRA is calling for the project to be redesigned into something that is not so bulky and obtrusive.

“Once it is built, it would stick out like a sore thumb.”

- Osman Shaboodien, chairperson of BKCRA

In 2019 Bo-Kaap was granted a heritage overlay zone in 2019 and Shaboodien says the building design should fall in line with this.

He adds that building this six-story hotel in this location will affect the living heritage and use of that mosque.

The deadline to appeal the Municipal Planning Tribunal’s decision is Friday 26 July.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.

New hotel near SA’s oldest mosque a threat to our heritage - Bo-Kaap residents