City to provide short-term shelter for evicted occupiers of Sanral land

The City of Cape Town reiterates the following as it relates to the situation in Lwandle:

Since yesterday 2 June 2014, the Sheriff of the Court, with the assistance of the South African Police Service (SAPS), has enforced an interdict against individuals who have invaded Sanral-owned land. The City was not in any way enjoined in this legal action, nor compelled by the court to provide alternative accommodation. It must stressed that the people illegally occupying the land were aware that their actions were illegal.

The City cannot incentivise illegal land invasion by providing alternative accommodation, as we have a duty to protect the rights of those people who are on the housing waiting list. Therefore, if alternative accommodation in the form of a temporary relocation area was provided to the people who illegally invaded the Sanral land, we would in effect be rewarding queue-jumping at the expense of the rights of law-abiding residents. The City has a duty to balance these rights and needs.

However, as part of our commitment to being a caring city, the City of Cape Town has decided to make available community facilities to those people affected by Sanral's legal action. We will make available three community facilities for a maximum period of one week. This will ensure that, with the imminent onset of cold weather, the people affected by Sanral's action can be sheltered, whilst they make the necessary arrangements to find alternative accommodation. It must be stressed that many of those affected appear to be young people from backyards, and it is likely that they can return to their families or find other alternatives.

The City is making this undertaking as a last resort and out of a humanitarian concern.

We will engage with Sanral to find a more long-term solution.

Statement issued by Councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli, Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, City of Cape Town, June 3 2014

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