Ndifuna Ukwazi's lawyers to oppose DPWI's bid to evict occupants of Irene Grootboom House
Housing activists Ndifuna Ukwazi joined about 60 occupants, who have been living in the three-storey building in Darling Street, to oppose the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure's court application for an urgent eviction from the property.
Irene Grootboom House at 104 Darling Street in Cape Town. Picture: Google Maps
CAPE TOWN - The occupants of Irene Grootboom House in District Six braved rainy conditions outside the Western Cape High Court on Thursday to protest looming evictions from the site.
Housing activists Ndifuna Ukwazi joined about 60 occupants, who have been living in the three-storey building in Darling Street, to oppose the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure's court application for an urgent eviction from the property.
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Ndifuna Ukwazi said its lawyers would oppose the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure's application for the eviction of about 40 families from the Irene Grootboom House.
The homeless families occupied the building in Darling Street illegally and many of them have been living there for more than ten years.
Speaking to the occupants outside the Western Cape High Court, attorney for the housing activists, Caitlyn Turok, said the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure had a poor case for eviction.
"The case that they've made and which we've spoken about before is procedurally defective. It's a really bad case. They don't meet any of the requirements they're supposed to meet to get the order that they're asking for."
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure confirmed its lawyers are applying for an urgent eviction order because the building was illegally occupied.