Carlo Petersen1 October 2024 | 6:34

Winde denies claims of ignoring proposals for social housing in the Western Cape

Western Cape Premier Allan Winde has refuted allegations from housing activists, Reclaim the City, that he has been ignoring their proposals for social housing in the province.

Winde denies claims of ignoring proposals for social housing in the Western Cape

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde during his State of the Province Address on 31 July 2024. Picture: Western Cape Provincial Parliament

CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Premier Allan Winde has refuted allegations from housing activists, Reclaim the City, that he has been ignoring their proposals for social housing in the province.

Public order police had to intervene at around 2 am on Sunday night, after about 200 protestors tried to enter the Premier's official residence at Leeuwenhof.

Reclaim the City said the protest was to highlight various concerns about a "housing crisis" in the Western Cape.

READ: Reclaim the City calls for collective effort to address apartheid spatial planning in CT

Head of political organising at Ndifuna Ukwazi, Buhle Booi, said that Reclaim the City organised the protest because their pleas to Premier Alan Winde had fallen on deaf ears.

"We've been saying that we are providing solutions to the Premier and he's blatantly ignored the proposals that we've made to him."

Winde hit back at Reclaim the City, saying they were delaying the development of social housing in Cape Town.

"We still can't seem to get these very same organisations to leave the illegally occupied places that are earmarked for the very reason that they are protesting... For social housing, and affordable housing." 

Winde said he was looking forward to meeting with Reclaim the City on "First Thursday" later this week.