Hermanus cliff path expected to be completed by June 2025 despite funding shortfall

Lester Kiewit interviews Johan de Waal, Attorney and founding member of Cliff Path Action Group.

Listen below.

Southern Right whales have been making their way along the southern coast of South Africa, with sightings reported in False Bay and other areas.

A favoured location for both whale enthusiasts and the whales themselves is Hermanus, where visitors can enjoy spectacular views from elevated vantage points.

Seven years ago, a group of dedicated Hermanus volunteers formed the Cliff Path Action Group (CPAG) with the goal of enhancing public access to the coastline.

Their project aimed to link the two segments of the existing cliff path, thus avoiding the narrow sidewalk along the town’s busiest road.

Now, the focus is on completing an 800-meter stretch of the path near Poole’s Bay.

This section has remained largely inaccessible to the public, with only the most agile individuals able to navigate the rocky cliff terrain.

The project is budgeted at R13 million, and although Waal says that some funds have been raised, the total still falls significantly short of this amount.

"In a sense, the project is safe in that the money is there, but that investor can't be expected to carry the full financial burden of building that path."

- Johan de Waal, Attorney and founding member – Cliff Path Action Group

He notes that an Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the pathway was granted in November 2022 and remains valid, despite objections from some residents about environmental concerns and potential impacts on their properties, which were ultimately dismissed.

Waal hopes the project will be completed by June 2025.

"We're holding thumbs for finishing it next year."

- Johan de Waal, Attorney and founding member – Cliff Path Action Group

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