On Friday morning 2 March 2018 the Transnet Ports Authority (TNPA) evicted the 60 year-old Algoa Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) from premises they occupied within the Port.
Effectively the club administration moved to other temporary premises whilst The Chartroom Restaurant and Pub ceased to exist.
A long standing dispute over unfair rental increases led to the eviction.
During 2009 ABYC laid a formal complaint with the Port Regulator over TNPA’s unfair treatment. The long standing dispute led to TNPA charging a higher rental whilst ABYC paid a lower rental.
TNPA have not taken ABYC to court over the disputed rental – the rental determination is still to be heard by the Port Regulator during March 2018 at a hearing in Durban for the 2009 complaint.
In a Facebook post announcing the eviction ABYC said;
Our thanks and love to everyone who has supported us through this long and oftentimes bewildering time.
Of course we are left with more questions than answers and some of us have taken this very hard.
Please bear with us as we chart our way through these rocky waters, regroup and give thanks for the respite from having to ensure that we had enough money in the bank to pay our rent and other obligations.
Freed from the undue pressure to run a ‘commercial venture’ we are happy to report that we are now in a stronger position to foster, promote and administer sailing in line with our obligations to South African Sailing and sailors in general.
THE FUTURE:
The future holds some promise for members and the sport. We have received a number of offers from concerned citizens to accommodate our members and club. We are still the link between sailors and South African Sailing, we still administer Boat Licenses and Safety Inspections, we still have the ability and manpower to run regattas and continue to showcase our Algoa Bay as a fine sailing venue.