A ‘band of brigands’ have emerged victorious from an eight-year battle to create a public thoroughfare amid stiff opposition from Hermanus millionaires who didn't want to share their exclusive sea views.

Until last month, the existing 13km concrete path – one of the Overberg tourist town's most popular attractions – made an abrupt 1km detour along the busy main road away from a cluster of upmarket homes and apartments nestled around scenic Poole’s Bay.

In 2018, the Cliff Path Action Group (CPAG) proposed extending the concrete path right along the coast, to the dismay of Poole’s Bay Residents’ Association, made up of several high-profile Hermanus families.

TimesLIVE reports that these included disgraced former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste, who ended his life not far from the controversial path, and Basil Hersov, former head of the Anglovaal mining group and father of businessman Rob Hersov.

In submissions, one of the objectors challenging the environmental impact process in court referred to the nonprofit group as a ‘band of brigands’.

Bayview, a private development which also objected, erected a balustrade preventing the public from crossing their non-tidal pool area until a High Court order forced the upmarket estate to take it down.

A subsequent land survey found the entire Bayview pool was actually on state land.

TimesLIVE notes that the court order meant path construction could proceed in front of Bayview to complete the walkway along the coast, bringing to an end an annoying detour for walkers along the town's busy main road.

Jobre Stassen, the action group's chair, said: ‘For all of us the result is beyond our wildest dreams. We are grateful for public endorsement often describing the new section as a legacy project to be enjoyed by generations to come.’

Full TimesLIVE report