Western Cape Government files intervening affidavit in City of Cape town illegal land invasion eviction court case
3 September 2020
Today, the Western Cape Government (WCG) filed an intervening affidavit in the Western Cape High Court, requesting that it be allowed to participate in part B of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) litigation against the City of Cape Town (CoCT) in respect of the rights of landowners where illegal land invasions occur.
The Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements, Tertuis Simmers, who has been mandated by the provincial cabinet to sign the affidavit on behalf of the WCG said: “The Western Cape Government is the custodian of public land that is, and will be, used for human settlements, education, health and social services, as well as conservation both currently and for future generations.”
Our ability to take immediate proactive steps to protect our land so as to ensure it gets used for a planned public purpose is important, especially for our most vulnerable communities who are reliant on public services from our government.
We are therefore making the court aware of our views and the consequences which follow when the large-scale invasion of land is not addressed timeously.”