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4 October
2011
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DARK DAYS: Leon Steyn could not hold back the tears after hearing the bad news. Photo: Mignon Laubscher
DEFEATED: The last remaining families packed up their belongings after a court order granted in favour of the City of Cape Town stipulated that they had to leave. Photo: Yunus Mohamed
Empty land, broken hearts ernment elections, members of the Mitchell’s Plain Backyard Dwellers’ and Residents’ Association (MPBYRA) called on them to take action. The invasion turned violent, and many people were injured. In a prior ruling, Judge Nathan Erasmus said certain “opportunists” had misled the community and abused a vulnerable and desperate group of people with the promise of land for housing (“Evicted”, People’s Post, 6 September). In May, the invaders said members of the backyard dwellers’ association had given them stamped and signed documents indicating the City had given its blessing to occupy the land. Charles Adams, chairperson of the MPBYRA, says the organisation would like to “continue supporting” the backyard dwellers, but “was ordered by the court to stay away from them”. “Those people are now on their own, as we were ordered not to go near them. Some of those people have given statements against us,
MELISSA PAPIER
IT was an emotional day in Tafelsig last Thursday as the last of the remaining families living on vacant land were removed by the Anti-Land Invasion Unit. Those removed were part of a group of backyard dwellers who had set up homes on plots at Kapteinsklip Station and Swartklip Sports Field in May. People’s Post previously reported on the unrest and court proceedings surrounding the evictions (“Weekend of violence”, 17 May, and “Voter turnout strong amid protests”, 24 May). Last Tuesday, the Western Cape High Court ruled in favour of the City of Cape Town’s move to have the land invaders evicted from the land on Thursday. The Western Cape High Court also recently ordered a criminal investigation into the causes behind the invasion. The backyarders, desperate for housing, flocked onto the land after, the weekend before the local gov-
which has resulted in an investigation against us.” Some of the families were taken to Blikkiesdorp, with others being referred to private land in Kalkfontein. However, when the families arrived in Kalkfontein, locals refused to allow them access to the land. The land in Kalkfontein was apparently made available to the evicted families by landowner Ebrahiem Abrahams. Tygerburger – People’s Post’s sister paper – reported that Abrahams had been met with hostility by the locals over his offer. The unyielding residents said the land had been earmarked for a church, and refused to make way for the homeless families. The locals also questioned why Kalkfontein backyard dwellers could not occupy the land when “outsiders” were allowed to do so. “The land has been vacant for 10 years, and no one has made the effort to develop the land,” Abrahams said.
He confirmed he had agreed to give the land to the community for a church, but ran out of patience when the community could not decided on what type of church should be built. Johannes Pula, chairperson of the Kalkfontein Development Forum, says residents fear that, should the Tafelsig backyard dwellers take occupancy, housing problems in the community will be exacerbated. “Our residents are already sitting with a problem where people don’t have houses,” Pula says. “There is a housing backlog with many backyard dwellers. We are just scared that people will now illegally start to squat on the land should they be allowed erect shacks on the land.” Instead, Pula says, forum members feel the City should negotiate the establishment of community housing projects with the community. • Additional reporting by Carmen Jacobs
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