Cissie Gool House occupants to bid for Old Woodstock Hospital site

The occupants of the Old Woodstock Hospital site have taken the bold decision to submit a bid for the property, which the City of Cape Town intends to redevelop into a mixed-income development that will include affordable housing.

Approximately 850 people currently live at the site, which they have renamed Cissie Gool House. They fear they will be left homeless if they do not meet the City's requirements to be tenants after the building has been redeveloped.

Cissie Gool House leader Karen Hendricks confirmed that the leadership and the occupants have made an in-principle decision to submit a bid for the site.

"We have a few months to prepare occupiers and other stakeholders who are in support of it. We will share details when we know more in time to come," Hendricks said.

Hendricks stressed that the occupants want to be part of the redevelopment process going forward, not merely applicants for tenancy.

"The expectations and demands that we have at this point is to ensure that any tender process includes the residents, or the occupants, of Cissie Gool House as partners with the City."

The City of Cape Town has previously stated that feasible options will be made available to the occupants who qualify for affordable housing at the site, and the remainder will be relocated.