A Cape Times report notes that 12 years after a would-be developer approached Cape Town with a proposal to build a shopping centre on public land at Princess Vlei, the sale is drawing closer to being finalised, despite stiff opposition from nearby residents.

In April, the council's planning committee recommended that the land be divided along Prince George's Drive into two parcels; one that can be sold for the development of a shopping centre and the other that will remain open space. Residents have long visited the vlei to perform baptisms, to picnic and to fish for carp and talapia. The shores of the vlei are also one of the few habitats of the critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. Philip Bam, chairperson of the Lotus River, Grassy Park Residents Association, told the paper residents wanted the land rehabilitated. The developer, Insight Cape Property Developers, will be restricted by dozens of guidelines. Among these requirements, notes the report, are: the developer and future owners will have to maintain a 30m buffer between any buildings and the vlei and prevent water pollution; the developer will draft an environmental management plan for the site, hire an independent environmental officer to monitor the project and pay fines for any environmental damage that may occur.
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