Page 77 - Bulletin 20 2016

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“I got in touch with Mr. Henry Hope, the columnist of the Cape Argus, who said he
would do his utmost to arouse public interest and support for the scheme. This he did
most ably and the success that eventually crowned our efforts was largely due to him”
(100)
.

Skaife’s article was immediately followed with widespread and enthusiastic public support
with Cape Town Mayor, W. C. Foster agreeing to call a public meeting to discuss the matter.
th
This took place on July 25 and the Cape Times reported the next day, “it was unanimously
resolved that the area should be reserved for the nation and preserved as a nature reserve”. A
committee was then elected to investigate ways and means of raising the necessary funds for
the purchase of the property. The committee consisted of The Mayor of Cape Town, Mr. W.
C. Foster; Chairman of the Divisional Council, Mr. C. W. T. Duminy; Dr. S. H. Skaife;
Mayor of Simon’s Town L. C. Gay; and Mr. S. F. Waterson M.P. and Secretary of the Cape
Peninsula Publicity Association. (Figs. 2.37 & 2.38.)

The next step was to once again present this proposal to the State. A long delay ensued as
Town Clerk Williams (who had been called upon to assist the committee in certain matters)
took ill. Then Mr. Waterson was appointed to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary in Paris,
followed by difficulty arranging a meeting with the Minister of Finance, Mr. N. C. Havenga,
nd
and the Minister of Lands, General J. S. C. Kemp. Finally on September 22 , 1938, the Cape
Times was able to report that a meeting could be expected in a few days. In the end General
Kemp was interviewed by a deputation consisting of Mayor Foster and Dr. Skaife.

Here it should be mentioned that General Kemp was known to be less than supportive of
matters of nature conservation. In particular, General Kemp went down in the history of the
conservation movement in South Africa in April of 1936 when, to a delegation from the
Wildlife Society beseeching the government to take measures to save the last remaining (50
or so) Cape Mountain Zebra, he exclaimed, that in his opinion, “No! They are just a lot of
donkeys in football jerseys.” And so it would go similarly in his meeting with Mayor Foster
and Dr. Skaife when Minister Kemp met their request for support with the incredulous
question, “another reserve? But the government has already done its duty. Look at Kruger?
And the Kalahari National Park? Are we never going to have an end at all these requests for
parks” (101) . To his credit, General Kemp at this meeting did assure those present that if this

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