Joe Slovo eviction given the go ahead

The Cape High Court has ruled that more than 4 000 dwellers at the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa vacate the area. The tract of land they are living on is earmarked for the second phase of the N2 Gateway Housing Project.

The application was spearheaded by the National Housing Department and its housing agency, Thubelisha Homes. They want the dwellers to relocate to Delft to make way for the housing development. Cape Judge President, John Hlophe gave a summarised ruling today.

However Hlophe did not give a timeframe in his ruling. The oral judgment says if the dwellers refuse to move, the sheriff of the court is authorised to carry out evictions.