WC High Court halts pending eviction at Irene Grootboom House in District Six

CAPE TOWN - A pending eviction at Irene Grootboom House in District Six was halted in the Western Cape High Court today after an appeal by housing activists, Ndifuna Ukwazi.

About 60 illegal occupants living at the Darling Street building braved rainy conditions outside the court to challenge being booted from the site.

Inside the court, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure's lawyers sought an urgent eviction for the occupants to vacate the property.

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The Western Cape High Court on Thursday ordered government officials to meaningfully engage with the Irene Grootboom House occupants to find alternative accommodation.

About 40 families who occupied the three-storey building on Darling Street illegally have been living there for more than 10 years.

Ndifuna Ukwazi attorney Caitlyn Turok says the organisation is happy with Thursday's outcome.

"Initially, the City of Cape Town only offered the occupiers emergency housing kits, or they offered social housing, which the majority of the occupiers don't qualify for."

The city has referred EWN to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure for comment, while the department indicated a detailed response is being compiled.

The matter will be back in court on the 25th of July.