CAPE TOWN – Paddlers and kayakers will know by month-end whether they can keep using the Three Anchor Bay boat sheds.

This follows uncertainty over the future of the long-standing boat sheds after the death of tenant Arthur Fincham, the previous leaseholder.

The sheds, currently occupied by Cape Kayak and several individual paddlers, have been used to store kayaks and surf skis for almost three decades.

They were expected to vacate the premises at the end of April.

Tracy Rauch, ex-wife of Fincham and owner of Cape Kayak, said they received an eviction notice issued by the estate lawyer of her ex-husband, and added that they have been in communication with the city ever since.

City Meeting

Phillip Viljoen, spokesperson for the newly established Three Anchor Bay Paddler’s Club, said they met with a city representative for the Recreation and Parks Department and Ward 54 councillor, Nicola Jowell, on Monday 4 May.

He confirmed that the eviction date has been extended to the end of the month following the meeting.

Viljoen said the club consists of over 50 members of the paddlers community.

“During the meeting, we agreed that we would participate in a brainstorming process to develop a solution moving forward and find a win-win solution for everyone.”

He said the sheds are a crucial facility and have been used by paddlers for nearly 30 years.

“The sheds are used all the time by the paddling community. It’s a hub for sea paddlers… The sheds are extremely beneficial to the sport and to the community who are practicing the sport,” he explained.

Viljoen said the paddling community has always taken responsibility for maintaining the sheds, funding repairs from their own pockets after storm damage, and remains committed to continuing this.

Future Use

Shanti Stuart, founder of Truth Kayaking operating in Three Anchor Bay, has suggested making use of some of the unused sheds.

“We have made applications to the city and explained how we have the ambition to run community-based projects to upskill people, train them in tourism, guided kayak tours, and give them ocean skills.

“We are doing this now already, but we would love to do them with the ease of operating from the storage space that the city already has.”

Jowell said the purpose of the meeting held on 4 May was to reassure users that the city “remains committed to finding a workable solution”.

“This is a complex matter, largely arising from the passing of the current leaseholder more than a year ago.

“Finalising and concluding the existing lease arrangement is a necessary part of settling the estate, and this has understandably created uncertainty for users, particularly around requests to vacate the sheds while the City works through the next leasing framework,” she explained.

She said discussions continue within the City to “explore ways of facilitating a lease process” that enables current and community users to continue making use of the sheds in a similar manner to what has historically existed, “while ensuring a lawful and fair process”.

The City’s Recreation and Parks Department had not responded to queries from People’s Post by the time of publication but said it was “looking into the details of the enquiry.”

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