Residents of Knysna have expressed concern about what was once a popular eatery perched above the water on the eastern flank of the Knysna Heads. Most recently the restaurant traded under the name ‘Senza’ and before that, ‘Paquitas’ and ‘Cornuti’.
The site was vacated in April 2017 and according to the Knysna-Plett Herald, residents who have visited the prime location recently have commented that the site is ‘deteriorating terribly’.
The view of the Knysna Heads from the former Senza Restaurant. Image: Facebook
The restaurant’s former owner was evicted in 2017 after accruing R4-million in municipal debt, which according to the local news agency ‘could have been avoided and could be attributed to negligence on the part of high-ranking municipal officials who agreed to the cession [(the transfer of rights)] of lease agreements without following procedures stipulated in the contract’.
When we spoke to Antje Tegen of Augusta Bay Guest House, which is situated directly behind the site, she said the former restaurant looked ‘very sad and empty’.
‘For us it was quite handy to send our guests across for dinner, now they have to drive into town for an evening meal as the nearby East Head Café closes at 4pm,’ she said.
After the tenant vacated the premises, the Knysna municipality had put out a tender in late 2017 which received three responses, none of which were feasible or met the requirements.
The latest tender deadline was in December 2018, and when asked by residents whether tenders had been received and who was maintaining the premises, the municipality responded by saying that the process is underway and that the area is cleaned regularly by the solid waste department.
