An urgent interdict yesterday stopped the SABC's planned auction of its properties in Sea Point, Cape Town, reports News24.

The urgent application was brought by the Department of Housing & Sanitation, and the Housing Development Agency.

The order came shortly before the auction was scheduled to start.

The department plans to discuss affordable housing possibilities for the site.

‘The Housing Development Agency (HDA) obtained an interdict in respect of the non-core properties,’ HDA administrator Neville Chainee reportedly told News24. He explained the application followed an unsuccessful attempt at securing a meeting with the SABC to discuss the department's stance that the land was perfectly suited for affordable housing.

In light of the interdict, the department plans to consult the provincial Housing Department and the City of Cape Town to discuss possible options.

The return date for the matter to be argued is Tuesday, 25 May 2021.

SABC spokesperson Mmoni Seapolelo said the disposal of non-core assets in Cape Town was part of the organisation's turnaround strategy.

‘The selling of non-core assets will also assist in a much-needed cash injection, towards a financially sustainable SABC and the funding of critical infrastructure project.’

The Department of Human Settlements said, in a statement, that the sale would have been in conflict with the government's mandate to redress spatial segregation and associated inequitable access to land by the poor.

‘The sale of the properties, without it being made expressly available for subsidised and/or social rental housing, would be against all we are striving for, and we had to intervene urgently on this matter,’ said DG of the Department of Human Settlements, Mbulelo Tshangana.

Full News24 report