Section 31: Right to Culture
Save The Fish Hoek Galley From Eviction.
Standing in solidarity with Mathea Eichel and the Khoisan Peoples to protect our biocultural rights to our ocean, mountain and restaurant.
The Story Behind Save the Galley
Discover why Save the Galley is more than a galley
Culture Cannot Be Relocated.
The City is attempting to evict The Fish Hoek Galley an indigenous-owned business, cultural anchor, and community hub located directly on Fish Hoek Beach. For the Khoisan people, culture does not exist in a silo. It is deeply and inextricably tied to the land, the ocean, and the surrounding mountains. The Galley is far more than just a restaurant.
A Cultural Sanctuary: It houses cultural artifacts, the Heritage Hut, and acts as a living museum.
A Gathering Space: It is the direct venue for sacred events, storytelling, and community practice.
An Integrated Ecosystem: Moving the restaurant severs the connection between the Khoisan people, their ancestral waters, and their living heritage.
” We cannot practice our culture in silos. The Galley, the mountain, and the ocean are interlinked. Relocating the restaurant destroys the very core of this heritage. “
CULTURAL & HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Why This Sacred Space Cannot Be Moved. Fish Hoek Beach is sacred Khoisan land where mountain, ocean and shore unite as an interconnected biocultural living system for indigenous rituals, steps from historic fish traps and Peers Cave.
As a living museum housing a traditional grass hut and ancestral artifacts, culture cannot exist in a silo. Relocating The Galley severs its inseparable connection to the land, sea, and living heritage.”
THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP TODAY
We need your support to stop this eviction take action with us today.
1. Sign the Petition
Add your voice to stop the eviction and demand the recognition of indigenous rights.
2.Share the Campaign
Share this campaign across social media using #SaveFishHoekGalley #s31Rightstoculture
3.Share the Word
Help us reach more people by sharing this page with your friends, family, and community Save The Galley
GALLERY
Every photo tells the story of a landmark that has become part of our community.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why can’t The Galley just be relocated to another venue?
Culture cannot be practiced in a silo. The Khoisan connection to this specific space relies on the unbroken link between the beach, the ocean, and the surrounding mountains. Moving the business to another building destroys the sacred context, the living museum, and the ancestral heritage tied directly to Fish Hoek Beach.
Isn't this just a restaurant dispute?
No. While The Galley operates as a local restaurant, it is an indigenous-owned business that serves as the physical anchor for the Khoisan Heritage Hut, cultural artifacts, events, and community practice. Evicting the restaurant directly displaces the cultural sanctuary hosted within it.
Who is behind this legal defense?
This initiative represents a unified effort between restaurant owner Mathea Eichel, members of the Khoisan community, and local supporters standing together to assert indigenous cultural rights against unlawful displacement.
Can I support even if I don't live in Cape Town?
Absolutely. Anyone globally can sign the petition, contribute to the legal defense fund, and share the campaign online to raise international awareness for indigenous heritage rights.
Make Your Voice Heard