The Western Cape High Court has ordered that the Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa) return the belongings of those who have been unlawfully living on state-owned land on Cape Town's Foreshore for the past 20 years.

According to News24, the court delivered the judgment on Friday after housing lobby group Ndifuna Ukwazi launched an urgent interdict application against Prasa to halt evictions.

Ndifuna Ukwazi claimed the evictions were done illegally without a court order.

Prasa and Transnet were listed as respondents.

Judge Tandazwa Ndita granted a temporary interdict and ordered Prasa to return and restore the group of 38 applicants' materials and personal property they were dispossessed of on 19 and 22 August 2024.

Ndita also ordered that the applicants reconstruct temporary dwelling structures within 24 hours of granting the order. 

News24 previously reported that during the evictions, an elderly man claimed he was stabbed, while several other residents who live in informal structures and tents had their homes torn down and belongings removed when Prasa's Protection Services and security guards swooped.

The occupiers launched proceedings on an urgent basis for an order interdicting Prasa from carrying out further demolitions of their homes and directing Prasa to return their confiscated materials and belongings.

In its responding papers, Prasa's regional security manager, Zithobile Fusa, said the operation conducted on 19 August did not include demolition.

Fusa added that during its operation, a Prasa official was injured and that cases had been registered with the police.

On the allegation of an elderly man being stabbed, Fusa said there had been no police case registered and that the court had been misled.

Full News24 report

See also full Cape Times report