The Old Gaol backpackers on Somerset Street has been asked by the South African National Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) to vacate its premises by the end of the month.
The Old Gaol backpackers on Somerset Street has been asked by the South African National Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) to vacate its premises by the end of the month.
SAHRA, which owns the property, gave notice to the current tenant, Brian Peltason, earlier this month.
Thirteen years ago Peltason, who was then a student at Rhodes, noticed the empty, run-down stone building and decided that something useful could be made of it.
He started the Old Gaol backpackers and pub in the historical building, which was once a jail. Since then, Peltason, supported later by his wife Elvira Van Noort, have tried numerous times to get a lease on paper, but due to disagreements between SAHRA on certain issues especially on who is responsible for maintenance, both parties have never signed a lease.
Subsequently, there has only been a verbal lease agreement between the two parties for the majority of the period they have been renting the building.
One year ago Peltason hired Justin Powers from the local legal firm Borman and Botha, with the hope that he would be able to negotiate a lease with SAHRA.
At the beginning of the year, their lawyer sent pertinent documents to SAHRA who, until recently had not responded.
This month however, Borman and Botha received documents from SAHRA’s attorneys in Cape Town, Grant Gunston and Co., requesting that Peltason and Van Noort vacate the premises by the end of the month.
They do not want to do this and have, through their lawyer, communicated this to the Cape Town attorneys, who have in turn noted that they received this communication.
However, there has been no further communication from SAHRA or their lawyers since. The situation has sparked a strong protest against the possibility of the Old Gaol being closed down.
Hundreds of comments have been posted on Facebook, protesting against the closure. Kim Van Arendonk, a foreign exchange student, said: “I lived in this beautiful place as international student. My studies at Rhodes wouldn’t be the same without the Old Gaol. Things I learned at the university, I saw in practice in the Gaol! The rainbow nation, the debates about history and future, leadership and journalism. Closing the Gaol down is a shame and a loss!”
In another comment, Dave Wates said: “I have seldom in my life come across a family more committed to the building of the capacity, to the cause of the underdog. I think this is an insult and an affront to the vision and integrity of those who have worked so tirelessly to build this."
The Old Gaol in Grahamstown is a place shared by people from all walks of life, from locals to backpackers to curious tourists to students who come to the Old Gaol from all over South Africa to be trained in the hospitality industry.
No-one from SAHRA was available for comment.
