About 400 people from Kraaifontein have been left homeless after they were evicted from privately owned land on which they’ve been living for 20 years.
On Monday, residents of Klein Akker informal settlement in Botfontein had to leave with all their belongings.
The land belongs to Odvest, whose owners made an application at the Western Cape High Court in 2012 to evict the “unlawful occupants” from the property.
The eviction order was granted in October 2017, ordering the families to vacate the land by July 2017 to make way for an industrial park.
Mense make shelter. Picture: Solly Lottering
The court ordered that the City of Cape Town provides accommodation for the residents, an order which the City appealed but was unsuccessful.
Last year, a stay of execution was granted until July 2019, based on the fact that children were attending schools in the vicinity.
The City has earmarked land in Philippi where residents would be relocated to.
But only one of the residents was happy to move while the others rejected the offer.
Residents left Klein Akker with a heavy heart, packing up their
meagre belongings and gathering their pets.
Many had to leave behind their furniture and even clothing as they had no means to transport it.
A hartseer Thys Swanepoel, 46, says he is now forced to sell his most prized possession a minted Mandela 90th Birthday coin which he purchased for R500 in 2014.
Thys Swanepoel, 46, says he is now forced to sell his most prized possession. Picture: Solly Lottering
The coin is now valued at about R22 000, he says.
“All I know is that this Mandela coin can change my whole life. We have been through so much, which means we can withstand anything now, as long as God is on our side.”
Another resident, Dorothy Ferns, 54, says they were dumped on the land 19 years ago by the provincial government and have nowhere else to go.
“We were placed here on 7 May 2000 by the government. We have never fought with anyone, and what about our human rights?” she asks.
Since Monday night, the homeless residents have been standing along Botfontein Road with their children and possessions.
Councillor Malusi Booi, Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, confirms the land is privately owned and that the City offered residents alternative accommodation on two separate occasions which were refused.
“The City is currently endeavouring to find a solution in conjunction with the South African Human Rights Commission and the attorney on behalf of the respondents.”
He said the offer of accommodation in Philippi is still available.