Hill-Lewis promises to 'meaningfully engage' with occupants of Cissie Gool House
In August, the city announced its plans to release the site occupied by about 900 people since 2017 for social housing development.
The old Woodstock Hospital in Cape Town also known as Cissie Gool house. Picture: Kaylynn Palm/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has promised to "meaningfully engage" with the occupants of Cissie Gool House in Woodstock.
In August, the city announced its plans to release the site occupied by about 900 people since 2017 for social housing development.
Hill-Lewis has clarified that some occupants living at Cissie Gool House will not qualify for social housing.
"It is absolutely our intention to speak to the residents about the plans there... There are going to be some people in that hospital who do not qualify. That's the law. You have to qualify for social housing. You have to fall within the bracket."
Denver Arendse, who lives at Cissie Gool House, said the occupants fear many of them would be sent to relocation camps far away from the CBD.
"What the people would love is not to be displaced... To be a part... To live where people were born within the inner-city and not to be removed on the outskirts," he said.
The city estimates that 500 social housing units would be availed for the occupants.