The withdrawal of the legal challenge against the appointment of Point Caravan Resort (Pty) Ltd to redevelop the former De Mond Caravan Park has reignited debate on social media, much of it based on speculation rather than fact.
The Hermanus Ratepayers’ Association (HRA) believes it is time to clarify the position and focus on securing an appropriate redevelopment that serves Hermanus and its residents.
The municipality acquired the De Mond site in Voëlklip through a 1942 Crown Grant. Its title conditions restrict its use to public recreational purposes and prohibit its sale into private ownership. The tender specifications explicitly recognised these constraints, making suggestions of a luxury 500-room hotel or high-density lifestyle estate unfounded.
Following the caravan park’s closure in 2012, unsuccessful attempts to secure a new operator have left the site deteriorating for more than a decade. Overstrand Municipality has since entered into a 45-year lease with the appointed developer for a public resort. The property remains subject to its title restrictions, although improvements revert to the municipality when the lease ends.
The withdrawal of the legal challenge means the process can move forward. This, however, doesn’t mean development can begin immediately. Planning and environmental approvals remain outstanding, including a Site Development Plan and an Environmental Impact Assessment – both requiring public participation. These processes will allow residents and interested parties to comment on the proposed layout, facilities and potential environmental impacts.
In November 2024, the HRA expressed some principal concerns namely, the 45-year lease, which we believed should have been shorter, and the lack of meaningful public participation at an earlier stage. Legal opinion obtained indicated that despite shortcomings, the tender process was likely to withstand legal scrutiny. In this context, we considered engagement more constructive than litigation, particularly given the restrictive title conditions governing the site.
Further delays will cost the municipality revenue while allowing the property to deteriorate further, with potentially damaging environmental consequences. Another risk is that prolonged underutilisation could invite national government intervention, leaving decisions about the site’s future less firmly in local hands.
FROM: Ken Briggs – Chair, Hermanus Ratepayers’ Association
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