Ndifuna ukwazi
CT officials criticised for Cissie Goul House raid, claims of intimidation
Cape Town's law enforcement officials say they raided the Cissie Goul House following allegations of drug dealing, illegal firearms and shooting but not a...
Housing activist group Ndifuna Ukwazi said that officers had been requested to vacate by 31 December or be subjected to an exorbitant rental increase of 1,177%.
Represented by the Ndifuna Ukwazi law centre, a group of homeless people last month won a court ruling that found that the City of Cape Town was misusing its laws to 'criminalise the poor'.
The Council approved the new Unlawful Occupation By-law on Wednesday, as well as an amendment to the Streets, Public Places and Prevention of Noise Nuisances By-law.
The City Council will be voting on Wednesday to approve the Streets, Public Places and the Prevention of Noise Nuisances Amendment By-law, as well as the Unlawful Occupation By-law.
Recently, the Western Cape High Court dismissed the provincial government's application for leave to appeal a decision to set aside the sale of the property.
The project includes US retail giant Amazon's Africa Headquarters and will also feature residential space, offices, a mall, a hotel, a gym, restaurants, conferencing venues and a school.
The city said that it was now ready to proceed with social housing at the site, but first needed to conduct a survey of those occupying the building.
Ndifuna Ukwazi, through its Reclaim the City campaign, took over the building in 2017 after it was left vacant in a move to secure decent and affordable housing for poor and working-class people.
The City of Cape Town said that it wanted to develop the hospital, calling on occupants to vacate otherwise it would pursue eviction proceedings.
The organisations believe that repurposing Ysterplaat, Wingfield and Youngsfield can help alleviate Cape Town's affordable housing crisis.
Last week, the Cape Town mayoral committee granted an in-principle approval and the matter was on the agenda at a Cape Town council meeting on Thursday.
The Western Cape High Court handed down judgment on Monday as it set aside the sale of the Tafelberg property in Sea Point to a private buyer.
The activists have fought the sale of the Tafelberg property for four years – arguing the well-located piece of public land in Sea Point must be used for social housing.
Lobby group Ndifuna Ukwazi said that even though level 3 regulations provided a prohibition on evictions, it was limited.
According to the Criminal Procedure Act a warrant is needed when seizing items and there are only a few exceptions to that rule.
Housing activists challenged the provincial government’s decision to sell the Tafelberg property to a private buyer.
The provincial government sold the Sea Point property to the Phyllis Jowell Jewish Day School for R135 million about four years ago.
The application asks the High Court to review and set aside the City’s approval of a high-rise building in the CBD.