Top local musicians and parents picketed outside Athlone Stadium on Monday to protest the eviction of the Cape Music Institute.
CMI Director Camillo Lombard sounded the alarm after the City of Cape Town served the renowned music school with an eviction notice.
Famous products of the school like Karin Kortje and Donvino Prins, as well as Robin Pieters, arrived to give their support to the CMI.
The CMI provides previously disadvantaged individuals access to a formal programme for music education, which incorporates the various facets of the global music industry.
The music school is one of the tenants at Athlone Stadium. The South African Football Association Cape Town, Social Development, the Athlone Dance Academy and several small businesses in the east wing of the stadium are also facing eviction from the facility, which is owned by the City.
TENANT: Camillo Lombard. PHOTO: TRACEY ADAMS/ANA.
The tenants were said to be non-compliant with fire and safety regulations and in November were given two months’ notice to move or be provided with alternative accommodation.
But Lombard says the CMI has been a tenant for six years, they have a 10-year lease agreement, and had never received any complaint of non-compliance.
“The City of Cape Town installed a fire alarm system last year, before the notice was issued. So why didn’t this come up back then?” he asks.
“They are now complaining about a drywall that’s been here for many years, and is now found to be a fire hazard.”
It cost the school R90 000 to install the drywall to create extra space.
“This isn’t about being non-compliant, it’s hidden agendas from the City of Cape Town to turn the property for other use.
“Before we and the other tenants occupied this space, it was a white elephant, nothing much was going on here,” adds Camillo.
He says the City offered a vacant clinic in Mfuleni as an alternative, but they refused as it was too far from their community.
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“The City was insensitive by issuing us with a two-month eviction, knowing that we have 80 students and 10 staff members.
“I cannot move my music school to Mfuleni for various reasons that would negatively impact our current learners.”
Singer Karin Kortje, who hails from Grabouw, also voiced her concerns.
“I have students who come from the Overberg to get this quality education in music. What will happen to them now?
“Camillo has nurtured these students and also us as musicians in Cape Town.”
A tearful Donvino Prins, the renowned saxophinist who also lectures at the CMI, adds: “It’s heartbreaking seeing the CMI get to this point.”
However, late yesterday, after a public outcry, the City made a concession and gave the CMI time to find an alternative venue, while working on plans to improve the stadium’s facilities.
James Vos, Mayco Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, says: “All the users of the stadium have been asked to assist the City and to give their co-operation while the City carries out internal alterations to ensure compliance. This will allow the existing occupants to remain in situ.”
In addition, the City will appoint a specialist business analyst to determine the “future optimal functionality of the facility”.
Vos adds: “After a fruitful discussion, the representatives of the music school expressed their thanks at being afforded more time to source alternative premises for the school as they have outgrown the space they currently occupy within the stadium.”
Lombard adds: “Thank you so much for your support, all the people of Cape Town. We had just met with the mayor and his advisers, and we will not be evicted from the Athlone Stadium immediately, but find an amicable way forward to reach a level of compliance.
“God is good and so are the friends of Cape Music Institute. Thanks to the media and all the advice we have received from friends.”