Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

Earlier today, the Western Cape High Court granted the application of Sea Front for All (SEAFA) and reviewed and set aside the decision of the Western Cape MEC to allow the development of the Sea Point Pavilion into an up-market hotel and retail centre, which would have extended below the high water mark and onto the beach.

The MEC’s decision was set aside primarily because a mandatory and material condition in s.22 of the now-repealed Environment Conservation Act was not complied with (in that she did not consider reports on the impact of the development and of alternative proposed activities on the environment), and because the decision was “materially influenced by an error of law, in that the MEC misunderstood her obligation to consider information and reports on alternative land uses”.

You can download the judgement here.