SUSAN CAMPBELL
Date of birth: 23 May
1957
Place of birth: Pretoria
Children: Two sons, James and
Stephen
1983-2003: Resided
in Johannesburg.
2003: Relocated to Knysna focusing
on environmental, social and clean governance issues.
EDUCATION
Institution:
University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg)
Qualification: Baccalaureus Legum
(LLB)
Year: 1981
Institution: University of Pretoria
Qualification: Baccalaureus Arts in
Law
Year: 1979
Courses completed at Masters level:
General Principles of Environmental Law, Land Use Planning Law, Pollution Law
and Natural Resources Law.
Institution & Year: University
of Cape Town, 2012/2013.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
1980 – 1986: State
Prosecutor Pietermaritzburg and Randburg.
1988: Admitted as Attorney of the
North Gauteng High Court (Previously known as the Transvaal Provincial Division
of the Supreme Court of South Africa).
1988 – 2003: Practiced as an
Attorney in Randburg.
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS
2005:
Founding member and executive committee member of Western Heads-Goukamma
Conservancy.
2005: Founding member of Western
Heads Protection Group.
2008- 2017: Chairperson of Uitzicht
Landowners Association.
2007 to date: Member of the Knysna
Environmental Forum.
2013 to date: Legal Advisor to and
Committee member of the Knysna Ratepayers Association.
2016 to date: Founding member and
Executive Committee member of the Western Cape Forestry Sector Forum.
2016 to date: Member of the Knysna
Municipal Planning Tribunal
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN KNYSNA
2004-2019: Uitzicht development
above Belvidere: Opposed the proposed 600 house Barlows Uitzicht development
together with the Western Heads Protection Group. In 2007 Barlows withdrew application
and are seriously considering making this land a nature reserve.
2013: Reported illegal removal of
Fynbos on Uitzicht property to Green Scorpions.
2006-2007: Brenton Hotel Knysna.
Prepared and delivered an appeal to the planning approval and eventually the
plans were amended to address the concerns of the appellants (Brenton
residents).
2016: ESCOM Phantom Substation:
Objection to ESCOM Phantom substation on Rheenendal road. Rezoning application
was refused.
2015: Pierpoint Development: Review
application on behalf of the KRA. Development was approved without water.
Matter settled and municipality made contribution towards costs.
2017-19: Eden District Municipality:
Objected to the proposal to sell 200 hectares of conservation land next to
Buffels Bay as well as Swartvlei camping site to developers. This is an ongoing
battle.
2004 to date: Working to ensure all
undeveloped land in the Western Heads (including her personal family’s
property) is incorporated into the Garden Route National Park or Goukamma
Nature Reserve.
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES
2013: Unlawful demolitions
Rheenendal: Reported and stopped the unlawful demolition of various homes in
forestry settlements and in Rheenendal and Knysna area.
2013-2016: Brackenhill: Helped
residents fight constructive eviction. Working with community and new
management to ensure property ownership to residents.
2013- 2015 Tender Irregularities:
Identified illegal expenditure totalling at least R15 Million by Knysna
Municipality.
2016: Complaint against Knysna
Municipal Manager who resigned after evidence had been led in disciplinary
hearing.
2016 Bo-Kaap: Assisted the Bo-Kaap
Action Group to appeal the approval of a high rise building.
2019: Investigated the management of Garden Route SPCA.
SKILLS
Bilingual: Fluent in Afrikaans and
English
Perseverance: cannot be kept quiet or intimidated.
Hard working.
Always seeks to uncover the truth.
Innovative – able to think beyond the obvious solutions.
Good at grasping and dealing with complex issues and finding the best and
fairest solution.
Integrity – has high ethical standards.
Human relations – establishes good alliances and partnerships.
