High Court Orders Observatory Occupiers to Vacate by November 30

The high court has ordered Singabalapha residents to leave by 30 November The deadline for people living along the Main Road in Observatory to vacate the site is looming, but many of them say they still don't know where they will go. In July, residents of Singabalapha informal settlement met with families living at the Masonwabe temporary relocation area in Gugulethu. The City of Cape Town planned to relocate the two groups to a site in Gugulethu. The meeting was meant to unify the two communities, but it quickly descended into chaos . Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines The Masonwabe families wanted to make it clear that they were not angry with the Singabalapha residents, but with the municipality for trying to move the Singabalapha occupiers to land promised to the Masonwabe residents years ago. An eviction order granted by the Western Cape High Court sets 30 November as the deadline for the Singabalapha site to be vacated. But the occupiers say they are yet to hear back from the municipality on a new relocation site after the Masonwabe residents rejected the proposal. The group had previously been offered emergency housing in Delft, but they rejected this as too far away. They were also offered a site at Hanover Park, but residents there were opposed to this. According to the court order, the Gugulethu project will be developed in phases. The first phase will be temporary relocation structures made of zinc and wood, the second phase will see the construction of 18 three-storey low-income units. Carl Pophaim, mayco member for human settlements, said the first units will go to people from Gugulethu, followed by the Singabalapha residents. On the pushback from the Gugulethu community, Pophaim said, "Engagement with the community is ongoing". But Gugulethu residents, such as Nombeko Leputhing, say the units must be reserved only for their community. "Gugulethu already has serious housing challenges," said Leputhing. "Our communities are struggling with backyarders, overcrowding, hostels and people who have been waiting for housing for many years. It is unfair that the City now wants to give housing opportunities to people not from Gugulethu." Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy . We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Tabling a motion on 20 August in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, ANC deputy chief whip Nomi Nkondlo asked, "What criteria informed the decision to relocate this group to Gugulethu rather than other suitable areas or available land?" She said the City had a long history of relocating communities to temporary accommodation, such as Blikkiesdorp, "without a clear and credible pathway to permanent housing". Zamuxolo Gulwa, attorney at Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre, said the Singabalapha group had no legal right to choose their relocation site. "They are at the hands and mercy of the City of Cape Town and the Gugulethu community. This is contrary to the public perception that the Singabalapha residents are stalling these proceedings or are refusing to vacate the site in Observatory." "As things stand, with the objections from the Gugulethu community, the residents of Singabalapha have nowhere to go," said Gulwa. Read the original article on GroundUp . AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher