The finalisation of the eviction of the unlawful occupants located at the Castle of Good Hope has sparked discourse as claims of inequality are debated, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: Eviction of occupants at the Castle of Good Hope concludes
On Monday past, the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, confirmed the welcoming of the eviction of the illegal occupants located at the Castle, he continued however, to express his concern regarding the inequality in Cape Town.
This follows after the City, alongside various authorities, successfully evicted the unlawful occupants outside the Castle last week.
Despite welcoming the eviction, the chairperson Mr Nocks Seabi, continued to highlight that the occupation underscored the continued challenge of access to social housing opportunities in urban areas.
‘While we welcome the evictions in the context that those people occupied that space under undignified and horrendous conditions, we remain worried by the continued inequality in our cities, which forces the poor and marginalised to spend inordinate resources on transport to areas of economic activity. The occupation is symptomatic of the country’s continuing inequality challenge’ said Mr Seabi.
He further argued for the implementation of long-term solutions to properly integrate communities closer to work as well as places with high economic activity, but seemed accepting of the temporary transitional shelters run by City Safe Spaces.
In a media statement released on Monday, 4 November, Mr Seabi stated that despite the fall of apartheid 30 years ago, poor people still live on the margins of society.
‘The time to have inclusive spaces has long passed, and there is a need for urgent action to ensure access to housing opportunities in the city’ he said.
‘We have long heard of plans to increase housing opportunities in cities, yet we have not seen tangible results. Our people deserve the dignity of quality housing opportunities as promised by the Constitution’ concluded Mr Seabi.
Also read:
Eviction imminent for homeless outside CT’s Castle of Good Hope
Picture: Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis / Facebook
