Reprinted from ewn, by Carlo Peterson – 2024-07-01 CAPE TOWN – The City of Cape Town said that nine Belhar families who illegally occupied a housing complex would not be rendered homeless if they were evicted. The families who were living in the area as backyarders moved into the vacant houses at the Pentech housing development in May 2021. While judgment to determine whether the families will be evicted has been reserved, the city said the occupants had been offered alternative accommodation in Elsies River, but refused to move. City Mayco member for Human Settlements Carl Pophaim said that t ..read more

The text below is the answer to a question posed by a reader to GroundUp – 2024-06-12 The short answer As a person living on a farm, you may be covered by the Extension of Security of Tenure Act of 1997. The whole question Dear Athalie I have lived on a farm in Stellenbosch with my grandmother and uncle for 31 years. They have both passed on now. Last week I was given an eviction letter. Other people living on the farm got them too – even ones who used to work on the farm. The long answer No one in South Africa can be evicted without a court order. A new owner cannot evict you without a c ..read more

Reprinted from iol.co.za, by Zolani Sinxo – 2024-05-12 Cape Town – The City of Cape Town is continuing with its plans to evict historic Salt River Market traders who, for decades, have used the venue to not only sell their goods but also to share cultural experiences with customers and residents. The City recently filed an urgent court application to evict the last remaining tenants who refuse to leave the market. The once popular market, which was filled with colour, now tells the tale of its decline, with only about four stalls left. The dispute comes after the City told the traders that ..read more

Students protected as illegal “landlord” evicted Eviction is never pleasant, regardless of just cause. It usually means someone losing their home, even if their occupation of that home is technically unlawful. People who erect shacks on land that is not their own can be forgiven…or at least understood…when they genuinely have nowhere else to go. But sometimes an eviction is not only justified but entirely deserved. A recent case that came before the Gauteng High Court reveals just how brazen a building hijacker can be. The case is astonishing for the sheer audacity of the respondent. Fortunate ..read more

What to do if you’ve been led up the garden path Before any contract is signed, there are usually discussions about the arrangement or agreement being made between two parties. The purpose of the contract is to capture the details and formalise them, so everyone understands their responsibilities and expectations. Signing the contract is often seen as a formality, especially if the negotiations have been amicable and the two parties seem to have a good rapport. For that reason, it may not be scrutinised as carefully as it should be. What happens if you have an understanding about the condition ..read more

Reprinted from GroundUp, by Masego Mafata – 2024-02-28 Judges question City of Cape Town about eviction of Bromwell Street tenants The City of Cape Town appeared before the Constitutional Court on Tuesday in a case concerning the eviction of tenants from Bromwell Street, Woodstock. Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga asked the City whether the planned eviction resembled the forced removals from District Six during apartheid. Ndifuna Ukwazi, on behalf of the Bromwell Street tenants, has argued that the City’s exclusion of emergency accommodation in its housing plans for the inner-city is unconstitution ..read more

Reprinted from News24, by Marvin Charles – 2024-02-15 The Western Cape High Court has granted a final eviction order in the City of Cape Town’s application to remove homeless people living around Culemborg in the Cape Town CBD. These areas are in the vicinity of the Nelson Mandela Boulevard intersection with Hertzog Boulevard, Old Marine Drive, and Christiaan Barnard Bridge. The order includes a standing interdict against any further unlawful occupation of these areas and other City-owned public spaces identified in the order. In February last year, the court granted the City an interim order ..read more

Reprinted from CapeTownetc.com, by Qaqamba Falithenjwa of GroundUp – 2024-01-28 Piles of suitcases, mattresses and items of furniture were strewn across the narrow Commercial Street in Cape Town on Wednesday and Thursday. Hundreds of people, most of whom are foreign nationals, were evicted from three buildings in the city centre. The area outside 42 and 44 Commercial Street was in chaos on Wednesday as dozens of South African Police Service (SAPS) officers and immigration officials cordoned off the street where the occupiers remained with their belongings. The occupied buildings are in close p ..read more

Evicting a non-paying tenant is a legal matter that should be handled to avoid incurring losses. This is how an eviction can be done. Reprinted from citizen.co.za, by Kayla Ferguson – 2024-01-23 While it can be a lengthy process to evict tenants who fail to pay their rent, there are procedures in place to make sure that both the tenants’ and the landlords’ rights are protected. Following the necessary steps is key to a hassle-free eviction process. Legal provisions Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa explains that both the tenant and the landlord mu ..read more

“We are not here because we want to be here. We are here because we need homes.” Reprinted from GroundUp, by Mary-Anne Gontsana – 2023-10-16 People living in about 110 informal structures and Wendy houses at Cathkin Village informal settlement in Heideveld are facing eviction. They first moved onto the land earmarked for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) in May 2018 due to the lack of affordable housing options in the community. Their fate will be determined on 24 October when their eviction case is heard in court. Hundreds of people living on land earmarked for the Western Cape E ..read more