Why Amazon Is Pulling Itself Out Of Cape Town?

 Goringhaicona Khoena Council, a Khoi traditional group in Cape Town, Africa is opposing the development of the Amazon headquarters here. If the court entertains their plea, the American giant has plans of moving out of Cape Town for good. 

The community believes their land to be sacred and therefore does not want it to be used for construction purposes. Construction is already underway for Amazon’s 4bil rand (RM1.10bil, US$262mil, €231mil) African HQ. 

The property developers, the Liesbeek Leisure Property Trust had promised to build a heritage, cultural, and media center that will be operated by indigenous groups. This was somewhat favored by several Khoisan groups too. But the Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Indigenous Traditional Council and a neighborhood association have asked the Western Cape High Court to halt construction.

As a result, Amazon has now indicated to the developer that if the delay is permitted by the court, they will pull out of the project itself. The near U.S.$300 million development saw over 56,000 people sign a petition opposing its development. Liesbeek Leisure Properties Trust (LLTP), who said the project would create jobs, attract foreign investment and improve Cape Town's quality of life, is the company overseeing construction.

Until two years ago, the site had hosted a golf course. City authorities last year approved the construction of a nine-story business and residential complex on a greenfield site that will be anchored by Amazon. Its offices will provide a total floor space of 70,000 square meters (7.5 million feet) – equivalent to almost 10 football pitches.

The court challenge is questioning the environmental approvals for the site.

Once hunter-gatherers known under the now-discarded label of Bushmen, the Khoisan suffered deeply under colonization and apartheid. 

The area, at the confluence of two rivers, is the ancestral home to the earliest Khoi and San inhabitants in Southern Africa. It carries cosmological, spiritual, and environmental significance to these indigenous groups.