Help our historic fishing village

 

  • Arniston / Waenhuiskrans has the only remaining historic fishing village in South Africa. Kassiesbaai has its inception in 1905. That year landowners wanted to relocate the fishing community, established in 1850, to make way for a holiday village. With the help of a lawyer from Caledon, the fishing community submitted a petition to the then governor general and after negotiations ensured their tenure. In the seventies and eighties of the previous century there were more attempts to relocate the fishing community, then under the former Group Areas Act. Once again the fishing community managed to confirm their residence and renovated and restored the historic village. The latest threat to the fishing community is the quota allocations of the past few years.
  • Kassiesbaai has long been declared national monument. Under the new legislation Kassiesbaai forms part of a Grade I National Cultural Landscape. It is a national asset that should be preserved. It holds a piece of the country’s people and history alive. Without the possibility of adequate income from the sea, this asset can not be preserved.
  • The Fishermen’s Union has a plan to construct houses, in the traditional style, at the entrance of Kassiesbaai for rental to tourists. There is also a plan for a restaurant. The income from these developments will be used to preserve historic buildings in the town. If you want to contribute to the preservation of the town, you can make a cash donation. CLICK HERE for our bank details .