[Image: Cape Winelands Airport / Facebook]
The proposed Cape Winelands Airport, expected to inject R8 billion into the Western Cape economy, has attracted both support and scrutiny as public participation processes near completion.
Khoi and San leaders have called on developers to prioritise “inclusive development” and job creation, highlighting the historical significance of the site.
The area, once known as the Autshumato region, was a key meeting point between early settlers, including Jan van Riebeeck, and Indigenous communities.
The Cape Winelands Airport project has been met with general support from local residents.
Billed as the “economic revitalisation of the region,” the airport project is expected to create over 58,000 job opportunities between 2028 and 2050. By 2028, the Northern District domestic and international travel airspace is expected to carry 1.7 million passengers.
According to the Weekend Argus, a large turnout of community members, business owners, and representatives from the Khoi and San community attended Tuesday’s engagement session in Fisantekraal, Durbanville, where concerns were raised around issues such as transport infrastructure and noise pollution.
At least 40 specialist studies have been completed with a range of flora and fauna, noise, socio-economic, avifaunal and airspace findings.
Deidre Davids, spokesperson for Cape Winelands Airport, said the open days focused on the communication between themselves and those affected by the development.
“We are deeply motivated by the overwhelmingly positive responses that we have received to our plans. The team is energised and ready to make a meaningful contribution to aviation in our city,” she said.
Khoi High Commissioner, Enolium Joseph, who spoke on behalf of the Khoi and San leaders present, said they called for inclusivity and acknowledgement of the first inhabitants of the region.
“The Cochoqua Khoi Khoi Kingdom, this was a kraal before. We feel that developments cannot move forward without our input as we feel we are the original land owners.
“This portion in Fisantekraal is a sacred area for the Khoi Khoi area. In this region, around 1660, the Khoi King, Odusola, lived in Saldanha, and he cared for his people and the kraale. This was one of the kraale that he always visited, and this was where he said the hollanders (Dutch settlers) had to meet him as he felt it was safer to meet there.
“We are not here to fight, we just want our voices to be heard, and that the existence of the Khoi can be recognised and to have our seat at the table and to be represented.”
“We want this history to be remembered,” Joseph concluded.
[Source: Weekend Argus]
