While the City of Cape Town plans to build high-density housing in the Melkbos area, they are forcing the animal rescue centre, Fallen Angels Pet Rescue off their privately owned land, citing zoning regulations and their proximity to Koeberg power station as their reason.
The decision by the City of Cape Town has left Fallen Angels Pet Rescue facing the daunting task of relocating its entire animal care centre within 90 days.
Gayle Basson and her co-founders, Shireen and late Lilian Williams established the organisation in 2010.
Basson purchased the land in 2014 as she had witnessed other animal welfare organisations being evicted from land they were renting.
At the time she was advised that land was zoned for agricultural use, however, as it was over 20 hectare they would be able to set up the animal rescue facility.
They were served a compliance issue by City of Cape Town in March 2022 to apply for consent to run the rescue centre.
On November 1, 2024, after a legal battle that lasted over two and a half years and costing the NGO R250,000 in compliance efforts, the organisation was informed by the City of Cape Town that their application for a Special Consent Use Permit had been denied.
According to the City of Cape Town, the property’s proximity to the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, within a regulated 5 km zone, makes the rescue centre ineligible for its intended use.
The City’s decision has left Fallen Angels Pet Rescue with no option but to vacate its current location within 90 days.
“This has been devastating news for all of us,” says co-founder Gayle Basson “We’ve poured our hearts, our blood, sweat, and tears into making this a safe haven. Moving will be incredibly challenging, but we cannot give up on these animals who have already been through so much.”
In a statement shared with IOL from Fallen Angels, the City of Cape Town stated their reasons for denying their application for the Special Consent Use Permit:
The authorised official on October 31, 2024 refused in terms of section 98 of the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning By-Law, 2015 (MPBL), the application for:
Consent use to permit an animal care centre for rescued animals to operate from a portion of the subject property
and
City approval to permit the proposed animal care centre within the Precautionary Action Zone (area within a 5 km radius of the Koeberg nuclear reactors)
Reasons for the above decision are as follows:
1) The proposal does not align with a pertinent guideline contained in the Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF).
The subject property is located within the Precautionary Action Zone (area within a 5 km radius of the Koeberg nuclear reactors), where the MSDF indicates that no new development is permissible other than development that is directly related to the siting, construction, operation and decommissioning of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KNPS) or that constitutes exercising existing zoning rights.
Basson was informed by the City of Cape Town that they can appeal, however the chances of them being granted the Special Consent Use Permit is around 5% and will cost them a further R15 000.
Supporters on social media have voiced their outrage at the City of Cape Town’s decision and are calling on the mayor and local councillors to intervene:
@Jacqui Kassel Schlosberg: Shocking beyond words after all the good work you do, I've seen first hand how much hard work is involved in what you do. The mayor should come and spend 1 morning at the Farm and he may well see things differently! This won't end here, you have thousands of people behind you!!! 😢
@Nicolette Senekal: Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis how can this be allowed! They are doing incredible work and care tirelessly for abandoned animals! Please help!!
@Tracey Cosgrove: Interesting when just the other side of rhe road they want to put up communicaty development of industrial and low cost housing. Just behind melkboss. Most definitely fight this!
@Kevin Jones: Now the City wants to even take away what little those animals have. From homeless to totally homeless. Talk about a raw deal in life. At the stroke of a pen and its all gone. How much further can these angels fall?
The organisation has rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of animals.
Fallen Angels Pet Rescue is urgently calling upon its supporters and the broader community to rally behind them.
The organisation faces enormous costs and logistical challenges associated with dismantling and relocating the farm infrastructure, as well as safely transporting over 300 animals to a new sanctuary.
The City of Cape Town was not available to comment at the time of publishing this article.
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