The Western Cape High Court has ordered that occupants of a District Six property be given until the end of next month to leave, says a Cape Argus report. Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti had alleged Shahieda Boyes, her husband and her parents had been illegally occupying the house in Reform Street since April 2014.

They had been informed by a trustee of the District Six Beneficiary and Development Trust they would be allocated an apartment in District Six following their land claim application. After being handed the keys by a trustee, they moved to District Six toward the end of April 2014 and the next month they were informed by officials of the Lands Claim Commission that their occupancy was unlawful.

Nkwinti, in court papers, stated that a detailed paper trail exists for each successful claim and an allocation of a property did not exist for the apartment. Nkwinti added the trustee had not been authorised to hand over keys without first adhering to the department’s signed documentation and handing-over procedure. Judge WH van Staden ruled that both families should vacate their home by 31 March and, failing that, they will be evicted.

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