Indigenous communities believe govt sold sacred CoCT heritage site to developers instead of preserving it

CAPE TOWN - Indigenous communities believe the government of the day sold a sacred heritage site in Cape Town to developers instead of preserving it for the Khoi and San community.

First Nations leader and Khoi chief Zenzile Khoisan said Khoi people would still appreciate heritage land in its original state without development.

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The chief was speaking at the sod-turning event of the disputed R4.6 billion development by the Leisure Property Trust in Observatory on Wednesday.

The grounds are set to be the new home of United States (US) retail giant Amazon’s Africa headquarters.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis were among the dignitaries at the event.

After years of contestation, it appeared developers and indigenous communities called a truce.

The Khoi performed traditional rituals on the sacred pocket of land before officially handing the site over to the developers.

Project manager on the site Joe Noero said the journey to this point included several court battles, but all parties have now found common ground.

"In terms of the First Nations culture, this is exactly what happened, although they didn't build buildings as we are building them now. The relationship with the landscape was integral, and we hope this building in a contemporary modern way will mimic what they achieved when they lived in this part of the territory."

The Western Cape government and the City of Cape Town said this collaboration is the vision they had when they approved the R4.6 billion multi-purpose complex on the banks of the Liesbeek River.

It’s not clear when the construction will be completed.