The High Court in Cape Town has ruled that the evictions of informal dwellers at Empolweni informal settlement in Khayelitsha was unlawful. This after over a hundred dwellers were evicted from the settlement over the Easter weekend.
(JUST IN) The Legal Resources Centre says it has won a High Court case against the City of Cape Town to prevent the City from evicting informal dwellers at Empolweni in Khayelitsha.
Over a 100 dwellers will be allowed to return to the land and erect their structures. #sabcnews
— Bulelani Phillip (@BulelaniPhillip) April 17, 2020
The court ruled that the City of Cape Town must return all the building material of the dwellers by midday on Monday. The residents, who were represented by the Legal Resources Centre, will now be allowed to return to the land and re-erect their dwellings.
VICTORY!
The Western Cape High Court has ordered that @CityofCT return the applicants’ building materials which the city confiscated during the 9th & 11th April demolitions in #EmpolweniCT.
— Legal Resources Centre (@LRC_SouthAfrica) April 17, 2020
Criticism of Empolweni evictions:
The City of Cape Town’s anti land invasion unit and law enforcement agencies came under widespread criticism following the evictions.
On Sunday, residents whose illegal structures had earlier been demolished pelted the vehicle of a mayoral committee member, Malusi Booi.
Booi escaped without injury but his vehicle was damaged in the incident.
Below, Booi speaks to SABC News via Skype about the evictions.
Booi says plans to redevelop the land will now have to grind to a halt.
