CoCT says upcoming social housing project to serve qualifying Cissie Gool House residents
The city stated that the next leg of public hearings on the development of Cissie Gool also known as Old Woodstock Hospital will start in February and include those occupying the building.
Residents of Cissie Gool House in Woodstock protested outside the Civic Centre in Cape Town on 31 January 2025. Picture: Melikhaya Zagagana/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Cape Town said that only qualifying residents of Cissie Gool House will benefit from the upcoming social housing development that will take place in the area.
The city stated that the next leg of public hearings on the development of Cissie Gool also known as Old Woodstock Hospital will start in February and include those occupying the building.
This comes after they demonstrated outside the city's civic centre on Friday, accusing the metro of ignoring them.
The group also handed over a memorandum of demands.
The Cissie Gool House residents said they have been trying to engage the City of Cape Town about its plans to evict those who don't meet the qualifying criteria to benefit from the upcoming social housing development.
According to the group though the city had agreed in the past to accommodate everyone, occupying the building but now seem to have changed their minds.
However, the city's Human Settlement MMC, Carl Pophaim, said the metro has been clear about developing the area.
"All feasible options will be assessed in terms of applicable law and council policy. I'm excited by the prospect of further robust engagement on the city's affordable housing agenda. With some 12,000 opportunities for affordable rental housing accommodation in the pipeline in urban centres, [where there] will be much-needed development, but more importantly, we will build Cape Town together."
The metro is yet to respond to queries about what will happen to residents who don’t qualify to stay in the newly redeveloped space.