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The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has asked postponement of the City of Cape Town land auction planned. The auction includes about 50 municipal parcels set for 26 February 2026. SAHRC said the sale may have adverse human rights consequences for marginalised communities, reports Cape {town} Etc.

The Commission says many of the public participation approvals relied on date from 2019 to 2022 and are no longer temporally relevant in a post-pandemic landscape. It proposes a voluntary postponement to allow a comprehensive review and cooperative resolution with the City.

‘The Commission believes that the balance of convenience favouring the public interest supports a temporary postponement,’ the statement reads.

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The City argues the auction will unlock redevelopment and investment across the metro, including the Good Hope Centre precinct, and that proceeds will support municipal service delivery. City documents and spokespeople note sites were vetted as not required for municipal use.

Civil society groups say permanent alienation of public land risks deepening spatial injustice and worsening housing pressure. The Commission has asked Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis for a written response by close of business on 24 February 2026 and says it will act to protect constitutional rights if engagement does not produce meaningful outcomes.

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Cape Town to auction iconic Good Hope Centre and 50 other city properties

Picture: Jaco Marais / Gallo Images

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