CAPE TOWN – The City is currently reviewing its options regarding the revamping of a long-standing Scout campsite in Grassy Park that is no longer used and has become unsightly.
The Gilray Scout Camp, which dates back to the 1950s, has since become dilapidated particularly after constant targeting by vandals in recent years.
The scout movement has leased the property in Klip Road from the City since the ’50s, said Regional Commissioner for Scouts SA Nimmy Abrahams.
Last year it was reported that with limited amount of burial space left at Klip Road Cemetery in Grassy Park, the site has been identified as the possible next cemetery for 2 000 extra graves, pending an approval (“Grassy Park’s burial crisis“, People’s Post 23 May 2024).
Paticia van der Ross, Mayco member for community service and health, at the time said: “The Klip Road Cemetery in Grassy Park has less than a year’s worth of vacant burial space left.”
Abrahams told People’s Post: “The property has always belonged to the City of Cape Town. We leased the property from the City since we developed the campsite there back in the ’50s.
“The camp has repeatedly been vandalised over the past few years. The City has consistently been made aware of these incidents of vandalism.”
In 2023, the scout group entered into a month-by-month lease agreement with the City after their long-term lease had expired.
“At the end of the long-term lease we advised the council we were not entering into another long-term lease and went onto a month-to-month lease.
In November last year, we submitted our required one month’s notice to it, advising we would vacate by 31 December 2024. The warden, however, was advised by the councillor that the City had requested he stay on. When we tried to verify this after the festive break we were told there was no agreement on record. The warden was given notice to vacate the premises and handed the keys back to the council on Wednesday 30 April 2025.”
The future use of the property is currently under review, confirmed the City.
“This process includes consultations with various City departments to determine whether the property is required for operational purposes,” the City pointed out.
“Should it be deemed non-essential it will be classified as surplus to the City’s requirements and disposed of through a competitive process.”
The City’s available records show it had entered into an agreement with the Boy Scouts of South Africa for the lease of portion Erf 75571 Cape Town in Klip Road, Grassy Park from 22 March 1990 until 23 March 2015.
“On 1 November 2024, the Scouts submitted a notice for the termination of its lease effective 31 December 2024,” the City said.
Two weeks ago, a community meeting was held in which one of the items on the agenda was transforming the scout camp into a multi-purpose sports centre.
“We are aware of the meeting and the multi-purpose sports complex is a strong suggestion from some vocal residents,” said Abrahams.
“Nothing has materialised and, to my knowledge, the Department of Housing has expressed interest in the land.”
The City informed People’s Post there were no plans to build a multi-purpose centre.
Abrahams insists that as a scout group they “maintain (their) properties very well, but couldn’t continuously pump money into a property that was regularly vandalised.”
Ward 65 councillor Donovan Nelson said Gilray Scout camp property had been handed over to the Property Management Department for further action.
He confirmed there was no council decision to transform the site into a multi-purpose centre.
“The property remains a major interest for the community and is receiving my full attention. Since Scouts SA left us the property we have placed security on the set and is in the process of getting a contractor to clear the alien vegetation on the site.”
