The City of Cape Town on Wednesday said it would not provide shelter for people who invaded city-owned land in Khayelitsha.
Last week, amid a national lockdown, the city twice tore down shacks erected in the eMpolweni community.
The city said the community only settled on the land last week, but activists disagree.
Land rights activists have criticized the City of Cape Town’s move to evict residents of the informal settlement during the lockdown aimed at curbing COVID-19 infections.
However, the city does not consider it an eviction, saying it was acting on a court order obtained in March last year.
MMC for human settlements Malusi Booi said the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and the Unlawful Occupation of Land Act forced them to move in quickly.
“The PIE act is very clear that if someone has occupied the site for more than 72 hours, you have to apply for eviction.”
However, community activist Ntsiki Dlulane said some of those evicted were there since last year.
“A lot of the people who were there were there even in 2019. So, this is not something that is happening during the lockdown”
She said more than 150 families have been left homeless.
In other news – Horror in Uzalo actress Baby Cele’s family – Her brother shoots family members dead (Pictures)
There was no play-acting required when Baby Cele viewed the scene where a double tragedy had befallen her family. The Uzalo actress’s cousin, Mbuso Cele, who suffered from depression, had allegedly succumbed to the torture of the horrible disease one final, fatal time.
Mbuso allegedly shot his mother, wounded his wife and then took his own life. “People must take depression seriously,” said the visibly shaken Baby Cele, who plays Gabisile in the SABC1 telenovela. continue reading
Source: EWN
