An appeal against the Western Cape High Court’s ruling to set aside the sale of the Tafelberg site in Sea Point will be heard in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) this morning.
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This comes as the land stands vacant and underutilised, nearly two years after the high court’s decision.
In August 2022, the housing movements Reclaim the City and Ndifuna Ukwazicame came together to plot a way forward on the campaign to address the issue of the site and the housing crisis.
According to the organisations, this came after numerous feasibility studies showed how affordable housing could be developed, though the province showed minimal urgency in doing so.
Head of organising for Ndifuna Ukwazi, Buhle Booi, was critical of Premier Alan Winde’s “failure” to attend the assembly despite a timely invitation, adding that his absence demonstrated the lack of genuine commitment from his office.
“It is a clear demonstration that Premier Winde’s alleged open door policy is farcical. Instead of wasting taxpayers’ money on extended litigation, the premier should deliver well-located affordable housing on the Tafelberg site,” Booi said.
However, the Western Cape government stated that circumstances had changed in recent years and that there was significant interest in exploring the use of the site.
Winde’s office said discussions continued and that the provincial government had embarked on other progressive social housing developments in well-located areas in support of its desire to achieve spatial redress.
Live proceedings from the SCA will be streamed on YouTube.
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Reclaim The City descend upon Sea Point to celebrate Tafelberg judgment
Picture: Ndifuna Ukwazi / Facebook