Drakensberg Cable Car

To add to intrepid's remarks above, the R 500 million is also only for the cableway. Other essentail facilities such as the access road, parking area, offices, restaurants, toilets, ticket office etc are excluded from this amount!

Thanks for sharing

intrepid wrote:

Opponents of the project - well-known hiking and climbing organisations, the local AmaZizi community and environmentalists - are not listed as invited delegates.

That sounds about right. They want input on how to manage a project properly, yet they don't want the input of people who know the region and understand the weather conditions etc.

When I buy a new cellphone, I always google "Phone Name is terrible" or "don't buy Phone Name". When I listen to someone's advice I google "why persons name is a fraud/quack". When I buy hiking gear I always look at the worst reviews. Simple logic - if you can identify the biggest flaws with something, you can make an informed decision. Sometimes the reviews ramble, e.g. "I dropped my phone in the bath, now it doesn't work", and sometimes the reviews are clearly emotive, e.g. a review that attacks the creator or manufacturer rather than design flaws in the product - but often the reviews will cover valid problems.

The classic sign of propaganda or lack of substance to an arguement is when one attacks the person and not their views/statements. This is what continues to happen here.

Is there any unified organisation being formed or already in existance to stand against the cable car?

I'm sure that the VE forum stands against it....but who is the voice on the frontline?

Is there any non profit organisation working actively against this?

Unfortunately VE isn't a legal person and thus can't formally stand against from a legal perspective, but VE has been working with Africa Conservation Trust and Wilderness Action Group on this one.

There is a website on the cable car set up by Intrepid with tons of info:
www.maloti-drakensberg.co.za/cableway/documents.html

The state does also have their website (which is surprisingly selective in which media articles they share).
www.drakensbergcablecar.co.za/

Unfortunately MCSA has decided not to get involved on this one.

intrepid wrote:

ghaznavid wrote: Unfortunately MCSA has decided not to get involved on this one.

Huh?

Has MCSA got involved in this? I know No4Stopper has done quite a bit of work on this, but to the best of my memory, MCSA is yet to release any formal statement on the topic. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks Intrepid and Ghaznavid

The reason I was asking is I was wondering how we as South Africans could make the global community more aware of what could potentially happen here. It is the international tourists after all who are expected to use the cable car.

If there is a non profit organisation out there that represents the AmaZizi community and their interests then they can register on onepercentfortheplanet.org and receive funding an support from international and local companies who have an interest in protecting the assets of Ukhahlamba.

It would also be just one of many ways for the VE community to help spread the word.

intrepid wrote: I'm not aware of any decisions that the MCSA may have made not to be involved. The issue certainly has been raised and at some point I'm sure their stance on it will emerge.

The only statement thus far was made in 2012 by the KZN Section (see below). I am not aware of any statements released by the Central Committee.
.........

The MCSA is registered as an IAP but has not at this stage issued a formal statement. It is on the radar both at KZN Section and at National committee levels. We will wade in when we believe we can have the most impact and will support other initiatives as well. We have our own plan as well and may well seek to consolidate support if it is thought to be valid, We are busy researching at the moment. I have made comments in the press but these have been my personal viewpoint and I was not speaking on behalf of the club.

For information James Voortman has stood down as President of the KZN Section at the last AGM. Gavin Raubenheimer is acting president in the interim.