There was chaos in Bo-Kaap on Tuesday when angry residents blocked a developer’s crane from entering the neighbourhood.
Police also fired stun grenades to disperse protesters.
Two people have also been arrested. Among them was an 80-year-old woman, reports the Cape Argus.
Earlier this year, the Bo-Kaap Youth Movement (BKYM) spearheaded protests against property developers in the historical area, claiming they were entrenching gentrification and eroding their heritage.
Since then the group split and its remaining leadership - Adnaan Oesman, Mujahid Hartley and Achmad Siraj Leggett - held talks with developer Blok Urban Living.
An agreement was signed in July, shortly after protests in Bo-Kaap erupted, leading to the burning of tyres and road closures.
The agreement stated the youth group and Blok were “engaging with one another to endeavour to resolve their differences and find a solution to their current impasse in connection with the current building developments in the Bo-Kaap”.
Despite this agreement, Blok turned to the Western Cape High Court and obtained an interdict against Bo-Kaap residents, served this week, prohibiting them from “causing obstructions” or “entering or trespassing on the 40 Lion Street construction site”.
Around 50 residents protested, saying the group is destroying Bo-Kaap’s heritage.
“We are here to protest against this development and uphold our constitutional right to protest,” resident Jackie Toking said yesterday.
Police escorted the crane to the site and barred protesters from stopping the crane.
Blok developers are busy developing a pilot inclusionary-housing project, Forty On L located in Lion Street.