Unesco to investigate Chappies toll plaza claims

Built by convict labour in the early 1900s, the twisting highway along Chapman's Peak is internationally recognised as one of the world's most spectacular marine drives. The 5.4-mile drive winds its way around the rocky coastline of the 593-metre mountain on the Atlantic Coast on the south-western tip of South Africa.

But the Democratic Alliance - South Africa's main opposition party - which runs the Mother City, wants to build a R54m canopy-style toll plaza over the road. The DA's plans have attracted passionate protests from locals. Now British polar swimmer and environmentalist Lewis Pugh (aka 'human polar bear'), a resident of Cape Town, has reported the authorities to Unesco for a potential violation of laws guarding Table Mountain National Park, of which Chapman's Peak, as it is, forms part.

"That is R54m that could be spent on education, housing and clinics." Pugh told Cape Argus, "We need real leadership from Helen Zille and she's been very quiet." He added that he was encouraged by the women who have been leading the protests on Chappies. "This campaign has been led by three women and followed by women. It is about time the men of Cape Town stood up." In an email sent to Pugh, Lazare Eloundou, the head of Unesco's Africa World Heritage Centre said they had "contacted the South African authorities to get more information in order to take an appropriate action".

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