At the announcement attended by the Executive Mayor, BCDA board, Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) officials, media and the successful consortium, Seaview Terrace Developments (Pty) Ltd, BCDA board member Clarence Mngadi said the BCDA’s vision was to create world class facilities on the East London beachfront.

The consortium includes well-known local figures Vrajlal and Karuna Harry, architect Sindile Ngonyama, Clyde Maurice and Xoliswa Tini. Included in the consortium is a women’s empowerment group, Planet Waves and a property developer from Botswana, with property interests in India, Australia and Mozambique, a Mr Mooney.

The proposed development Seaview Terrace Gardens includes 79 apartments and a 60 room boutique hotel.

Ngonyama said the architectural principles for the development included sensitive handling of the environment and acknowledgement that it was a prime site that required an iconic development.

Mngadi thanked the mayor and her team for the vision in creating BCDA as a focussed entity towards the development of a portion of the Eastern Cape that could make citizens thankful and proud to live in.

BCDA CEO Siphiwo Mdila said the recent announcement was a milestone in the Agency’s development mandate and he explained the process going forward that would result in a deed of sale.