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TUESDAY 29 September 2020 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za
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People’s Post
CAMPS BAY
Activists take over mansion KAYLYNNE BANTOM KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@MEDIA24.COM
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ne week. That is how long a group of people who refer to themselves as the We See You Movement, a Queer Feminist Activist Collective group, have been occupying a luxury Camps Bay holiday home illegally. Kelly-Eve Koopman, a spokesperson for the group, says: “We are trying to challenge the norm of how high net worth individuals are able to own multiple properties and use them for profit while the majority of South Africans are struggling to access and own land.” Koopman together with six others forked out about R15 000 to book the luxury home under the pretence that they would only be staying there for three days (Friday 18 September to Sunday 20 September). But on Monday 21 September they informed the Property management company, Turnkey365, via email that they would be staying for an undetermined number of days – without paying. The mansion boasts endless views of the Atlantic Ocean, six bedrooms, a pool and a jacuzzi, and it comes with a hefty daily price tag. Koopman says their action is also meant to highlight the vulnerability of queer persons, women and children when it comes to the
lack of safe spaces. Their stay-in isn’t something the group decided on overnight, Koopman says: “It’s taken time, sacrifice and lots of energy to plan an action like this that allows us to access space that we would not otherwise be able to access like a mansion in Camps Bay. “But more importantly, to have a platform for the country to engage on these issues of inequality, violence and a flawed economic system.” Gaby van Wyk, managing director of Turnkey365, said in a press statement that while the company understands and respects the group’s cause and belief, their actions are affecting the livelihood of staff. “The guise under which the guests secured the booking has not only been dishonest, but their ‘indefinite’ occupancy and refusal to allow staff onto the property has led to many staff unable to perform their duties.” The company gave the group until Thursday 24 September to vacate the property, but the group refused to leave. Van Wyk says: “Following the refusal of a group of guests to vacate a property under our management in Camps Bay, we have instituted both legal and civil proceedings to achieve an eviction and recoup all costs incurred.” Van Wyke adds: “We intend to uphold the legal rights of our small business as well as those of our colleagues across the tourism industry.”
Wonderbags were handed over to a group of women from various areas across Cape.
Honouring community heroines KAYLYNNE BANTOM “Honouring women that have been keeping their communities fed since the start of lockdown.” This was the theme at the Wonder Women event held on Friday 11 September where 100 women from various areas across Cape Town were treated and thanked for their selfless acts of kindness. The event took place at the Den Anker Restaurant at the V&A Waterfront. Margolite Williams, event organiser, says some of the women are experiencing trying times themselves, but for the past five months of lockdown they have been instrumental in providing food security in their respective communities.
“It was a belated women’s month event and we really just wanted to thank these women and make them feel special,” explains Williams. She says each woman received a wonderbag, a non-electric slow cooker which was specially developed for women cooking over open fires, as well as a cooking pot which she says will assist them in their duties. She adds that big bags of rice and vegetables were also handed over. Williams says the wonderbags will benefit the women as they are energy efficient. She explains that after bringing a pot of food to the boil and placing it in a foam-insulated wonderbag, the food will continue cooking for up to 12 hours without additional heat. Rejeanne Vlietman, general manager at the restaurant, says in
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partnership with the V&A Waterfront, she works closely with some of these women. “They are truly unsung heroes of their communities. Some of them wake up at 04:00 in the morning to start cooking.” Cindy Mkaza-Siboto who runs the Enqagqabini Education Academy, a non- profit organisation (NPO) based in Khayelitsha, was one of the beneficiaries. She says the NPO aims to supports high school learners with academics, career planning and mentorship. It also provides hot meals to the learners. “The wonderbag will save me electricity and time. I can leave the food to cook while I tend to the learners. I am so happy for this donation,” explains MkazaSiboto.