[Image: Oude Molen Eco Village / Facebook]
Residents of the historic Oude Molen Eco Village celebrated a small victory this week after Heritage Western Cape (HWC) rejected a key Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) submitted by the Western Cape provincial government.
The HIA was part of the government’s proposal for a large-scale mixed-use redevelopment of the site, including social housing, which had not sit well with the Oude Molen community or heritage advocates.
The decision was handed down on May 14 and found that the HIA failed to meet essential criteria under the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA).
Dr. Michael Janse van Rensburg, CEO of HWC, pointed out several deficiencies in the assessment, including “inadequate investigation into the site’s intangible and living heritage, insufficient contextual understanding of its role within the broader Two Rivers Urban Park (TRUP) heritage landscape, and a lack of detail on the proposed building massing needed to assess its visual and cultural impact”.
“The provincial government must now submit a revised HIA to address these shortcomings,” said Dr. Janse van Rensburg. In other words, take a deeper look into what you are trying to erase.
Oude Molen Eco Village is a 14-hectare area next to the Black River near Pinelands, and has a interesting community of tenants operating small businesses, schools, health facilities, and social initiatives. To most new parents in the area, it’s also one of the best places to have a cup of coffee and a moment to yourself on a Sunday morning – if you know, you know.
According to a 2021 redevelopment framework released by the Department of Infrastructure (DOI), the province wants to transform the site into a mixed-use development to address the desperate need for affordable housing in Cape Town. But, the plan is getting fierce resistance from local residents who argue the development would erase a rare, functioning model of urban sustainability.
Public consultations held in April 2024 triggered an outcry from tenants who felt the process was rushed and dismissive of their concerns. As previously reported by the Southern Suburbs Tatler, community members accused the DOI of “failing to adequately recognise the village’s existing social infrastructure and its historical significance within the TRUP area”.
The Oude Molen Eco Village Tenants’ Association (OMEVTA) have issued a statement welcoming the latest ruling.
“We are respectful of HWC’s statutory role in safeguarding both the tangible and intangible heritage of the Western Cape. This decision validates the voices of all those who have engaged in this process to protect what Oude Molen represents.”
The site used to be a psychiatric hospital complex but has evolved over the past three decades into a self-organised eco-village with a community-led approach to education, farming, and social services. Locals argue that the “lived experience and practices” cultivated there over time should be given the same consideration as the physical heritage.
Despite the setback, Jandré Bakker, acting director of operational support at the DOI, confirmed that while the ruling called for more comprehensive compliance with Section 38(3) of the NHRA, the overall development goals have not changed.
“This ruling means additional work is required to meet heritage legislation standards, but it does not alter our intent for integrated, inclusive development,” Bakker said. He emphasised that the province’s plan still aims to deliver housing, jobs, and access to urban infrastructure, but within a framework that can also preserve heritage values.
The fight’s not over, but Oude Molen is a rare patch of farm life in an increasingly cramped metropolis, so perhaps the city should take another look at how it defines social development.
