Lakeside community march for justice in Riverview Church property conflict

Members of the Riverview Church of Christ congregation and the wider Lakeside community took part in a peaceful march, calling for authorities to address concerns surrounding the long-running dispute over the church property.

Members of the Riverview Church of Christ congregation and the wider Lakeside community marched from Muizenberg police station to the church on Saturday, August 15.

They are calling on authorities to intervene in the long-running dispute over the church property in Main Road, Lakeside.

The peaceful march culminated in the handover of a memorandum to Muizenberg police, with residents calling for greater accountability from police, the City and other authorities over what they say are unresolved law-enforcement, safety and property-related concerns at the church.

The community memorandum, signed by members of the Lakeside community, states that the march was intended to demonstrate that the dispute has become a wider community concern and is not simply a matter between the two factions involved in the church.

Residents said they were not asking authorities to determine the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings, but rather wanted existing laws, by-laws , and court orders to be properly enforced.

The dispute at Riverview Church of Christ has been ongoing for more than a decade, with various court proceedings involving competing claims over the use and control of the property.

In 2022 , when members of the congregation raised concerns about access to the church and alleged violations of court orders.

The matter came back into the spotlight in 2024 when almost 100 shipping containers were placed on the church property.

The City said at the time that the property was not zoned for a storage business and ordered the containers to be removed.

The latest community memorandum says residents remain concerned that aspects of the dispute and related complaints have not been resolved.

The memorandum raises several concerns about the current circumstances at the property.

These include alleged overcrowding, fire and electrical safety concerns, traffic and parking, noise, use of the property, and possible contraventions of municipal planning, building, and zoning regulations.

Riverview Church of Christ member William January said the congregation had become frustrated by what it regarded as a failure by various authorities to enforce court orders.