In February The Bateleurs were approached by Advocate Paul Hoffman, requesting a flight over the Vissershok Landfill site, in Cape Town.  Advocate Hoffman is acting pro bono for a group of concerned Capetonians who plan to bring an action against the City of Cape Town regarding its management of hazardous waste at Vissershok.

After the flight, Paul Hoffman wrote to us saying:

"The pending litigation against the City of Cape Town concerning the atrocious manner in which its hazadous waste landfill at Vissershok, almost in the shadow of Table Mountain, is operated received a shot in the arm from The Bateleurs on 2 February 2006. A retired BBC cameraman made an aerial film of the locality from a helicopter piloted by Jock Kannemeyer. 

During the flight inaccessible plastic pollution trapped in a large forest of Port Jackson willows was photographed and some well-concealed toxic waste was spotted. From the air the incorrect alignment of trenches at the workface was easily seen and the proximity of the site to populated areas could be demonstrated.  The film will be used in the litigation which is set down for hearing in the Cape High Court on 13 March 2006, and  may render it unnecessary for the Court to inspect the site, thus saving considerable time and  cost.

Well done Jock and a heartfelt thank you to The Bateleurs for their help!"

The photo below shows (from left) Paul Hoffman and Jock Kannemeyer.