Fisherhaven residents voice concerns as Mayor Klaas investigates school building objections

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17-02-2026
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Following an objection letter sent to Mayor Archie Klaas by Fisherhaven residents detailing their objections to the construction of a new school in Fisherhaven, councillors say investigations into residents’ objections are currently under way, as complaints continue to surface

Klaas confirmed that a meeting inviting residents to discuss the school building plans and what they could expect from the development was held in 2025, before construction began.

"There was public participation on the matter. In November, I attended one of the ward committee meetings. Some of the issues residents raised included concerns about increased traffic caused by buses and whether the roads were prepared to handle the heavy load," he said.

He explained that the response to these concerns included deploying traffic officers to manage traffic flow and finalising designated parking areas for buses to ensure the safety of learners and nearby residents.

However, Klaas noted that the complaints he has received raise issues that were not addressed during the consultation process.

Klaas added that the development of a school in the area has been part of planning since the 1960s, when the township was first developed.

"The original approved building plans included a school in the area. It has always been our duty to make that happen." 

Arnie Africa, councillor for Ward 8 where the school is located, also confirmed that community participation meetings were held at various stages of the project, and said he played a key role in facilitating them.

"In the first meeting, we ensured that the education district head and the community were present. We then organised another meeting, specifically after the ward committee meeting, for the second phase of the school. Project leaders, government officials, and others were also in attendance." 

Africa insisted that several meetings were held to invite community participation. However, some Fisherhaven residents continue to dispute this.

Andrew Willis, a local business owner and long-time Fisherhaven resident, claimed that no such meetings were held.

"There are currently about four formal businesses around here, and none of us were made aware of any meetings or the intention to build a school at any time," Willis said.

While he noted that his business is not directly affected, Willis said his main concern as a resident is that the roads were not designed to accommodate heavy traffic.

"The degradation of the roads is clearly visible. They were not made to carry heavy buses," he said.

Another resident, Barry Riddle, echoed these concerns and claimed that no environmental studies were conducted to assess the impact the construction and increased activity would have on local wildlife.

"I just saw a big sign notifying us that they are building a school in our community. When construction started, it just became bigger and bigger, and it happened so quickly. There are wild horses, birds, and snakes here that are exotic to this area. They will be driven away, and this will be detrimental to the environment," Riddle said.

Riddle, a retired war veteran who lives with post-traumatic stress disorder, said he had hoped to find a quiet place to spend his later years.

"I am not against education, but senior citizens need space to themselves, away from developments, improvements, and bulldozers that cut down the forests as they have been here," he said.

Lynette Hewitt, another Fisherhaven resident, said she was appalled by the construction of the school, claiming she had been assured it would never happen.

"We are all senior citizens living around the school. Some estate agents told us this school would never happen because the residents are old and retired. Today, my life has changed," she said.

While Hewitt acknowledged that she was aware of the meetings that were held to inform residents about the project, she said there was little opportunity for meaningful engagement.

"They never asked us how we felt about it. They were telling us it was happening. Within a day or two of the meeting, building material was delivered at night. We then went out ourselves to look for tortoises, fynbos, and other exotic plants to try to remove them so they would not be destroyed," she said.

Sarah De Waal, another Fisherhaven resident, said she supports the objection to the school and the letter sent to the councillor, which included a 21-day deadline for a response.

She said nearly 50 residents support the objection.

Dinish Rajpaul, a resident and chairperson of the Fisherhaven Homeowners Association, confirmed that his office ensured meetings were conducted and that communication was shared via the community chat group.

"There were consultative meetings the community was invited to, to inform them of the development and address their concerns. These meetings were not about whether the project would go ahead, but rather about potential operational challenges," Rajpaul said.

He added that the association has been engaging with authorities regarding operational issues linked to the school.

Klaas acknowledged that there are "cracks" in the process, but maintained that these concerns should have been raised during earlier meetings.

"One has to look at the concerns and see how and why these issues were not raised at the initial meetings. There are matters we want to investigate before providing an official response," he said.

This story is developing.