District Six tenants fight eviction threat
District Six residents who survived apartheid’s forced removals have decried an impending eviction akin to those of the Group Areas Act.
A Cape Argus report says the six households located in Searle Street, District Six, recently had their electricity switched off and are anticipating their water being disconnected imminently by the city.
Originally, there was an agreement between the occupants and the Holy Cross Catholic Church in District Six, which had owned the land.
Ettiene du Toit, took registration of the property in June 2022, and eviction notices were hand-delivered shortly thereafter.
They were given one month’s notice to vacate.
The matter is at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.
The families who have occupied the cottages since 1928 for generations say they have nowhere else to go.
Since coming under new ownership, the occupants are no longer receiving monthly water and electricity bills and are unable to pay their rent.
An urgent application is expected to be launched today in the Western Cape High Court, to have the electricity reconnected.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.