Stop the lease rewrite

Tell the CITY: NO Herzlia lease amendments.

The City wants permission to delete the clauses that force Herzlia Schools to share the sports ground. They ignored the public until we demanded consultation, and now unless councillors hear overwhelming objections before 20 March 2026, they could transform to privatise a public space. Make it impossible for them to approve this.

Submit objection online Why it matters

Deadline

Calculating…

What the School wants

Scrap clauses guaranteeing public access & shared use

Our demand

Public space remains public space, and keep the fields open

Whats happend in brief

  • An illegal fence was erected around the fields (ERF 1154) in in early 2025, in violation of the existing lease.
    • There was no public participation.
    • It was originally claimed that the fence was temporary to facilitate grass growth.
    • Ablution facilities have also been locked and are not generally available.
  • The fence has been used to exclude the public and community clubs from the fields, even outside of Herzlia’s scheduled hours and without notice.
    • There was an Ultimate Frisbee club that used to meet Wednesday evenings.
    • The cricket nets are used by families on the weekends.
    • Informal football teams have been practicing there for years.
    • Local athletes ran intervals around the field.
  • The lessee pays a heavily subsidised rate (R900/annum) that is far below market value for a private lease.
    • Employees of the lessee use the fields for their own private sporting practice (golf).

Section 17 of the Municipal Systems Act gives you the right to comment. Use it to demand auditable consultation.

What is happening?

Herzlia Schools has asked the City to rewrite its lease so it no longer needs to share the fields.

Clauses targeted

The lessee wants clauses vii, x, and xi removed. Those clauses are the reason walkers, children, and local clubs can use the grounds outside of Herzlia’s timetable.

School narrative

The School claims public access causes maintenance costs and safety risks. Yet the School has produced no engagement record or evidence that it canvassed users before seeking lease revision. Regular users dispute claims too.

Reality on the ground

The surrounding neighbourhoods have very little accessible field space. The Herzlia fields are where kids learn football, dogs run safely, athletes train, and community teams practice — at zero cost to the City and massively reduced cost to the Scool.

What’s at stake

Once a lease drops public-access clauses, they rarely return. The City would be setting a precedent that public land can be privatised quietly through amendments. Theft of public space without replacement.

Why object

Four clear grounds to demand a NO vote.

Public land must stay public

Erf 1154 is zoned Open Space 2. Removing the access clause outsources a civic duty to a private institution with no transparent oversight or revision of rent to reflect private nature.

It breaks Council promises

Resolution 16SUB/4311/2025 and its predecessors instructed that Herzlia’s lease include unrestricted access precisely to keep the public benefit intact. Councillors must defend their own resolutions.

Community clubs lose their home

Grass Roots FC and informal women’s and youth teams would have nowhere equivalent to train if their scheduled hours disappear. The frisbee club would lose a place to play. The coffee truck loses customers because of no ablution facilities.

Better solutions exist

Shared management agreements, monitored opening schedules, and City support for maintenance are proven alternatives to closing the gates. Council should instruct officials to pursue these fixes, not excise public rights.

Your action plan

Submit an objection in three steps.

1. Tell the City online

Use the City’s portal and state clearly that you object and expect councillors to vote against the amendments. Keep a screenshot for your records.

Open City portal

2. Email backup

Send your objection to RP.MFMC@capetown.gov.za with the subject “Objection: Herzlia Lease Amendments”. Tell them to table your letter and record a NO vote.

3. Post if you prefer

Address written objections to Jason Philander, PO Box 4557, Cape Town, 8000. Mailed submissions must arrive by 20 March 2026. Mention that the only acceptable outcome is rejection of the amendment.

Need help drafting?

Use this objection builder to craft a clear “vote NO” message, then paste it into the portal or your email.

Select the arguments you want to include
Email it

Tip: include photos, signatures, and references to City documents such as SC16 minutes or PP Circulation memoranda for extra weight.

Key dates

Track the process so nothing slips through unnoticed.

  1. 20 Feb 2026

    City opened the comment period and published the proposed lease amendment.

  2. 20 Mar 2026

    Deadline for objections. Submissions received afterwards can be ignored.

  3. April 2026

    Subcouncil 16 deliberation. Community attendance and petitions will be critical.

  4. Mid 2026

    Mayoral Committee decision. Without sustained pressure the amendment could be approved.

Evidence pack

Use these documents to cite facts in your objection.

SC16 Minutes • 17 Nov 2025 PP Circulation Memorandum • Lease Amendments Sample formal objection • Erf 1154 No Fence No Limits briefing City lease plan (official) City locality map (official)

Stay loud

Let neighbours know and keep the City accountable.

City contact

Official liaison: Jason Philander
Tel: 021 417 4094
Email: RP.MFMC@capetown.gov.za

Please copy objections@fields.help so we can track responses.

What to demand

Ask each Subcouncil 16 councillor to place this item on the public agenda and vote to reject the amendments. Reference Resolution 16SUB/4311/2025 and the requirement for unrestricted access.

Share this page

Post a photo of the fields, tag #FieldsForAll, and link directly to this site plus the City portal. Every unique submission counts.

This community platform is independent of the City and Herzlia Schools. We back councillors who vote NO on the amendment so safe shared use continues.