Church leaders slam Bromwell St evictions
ANGLICAN Church leaders in Cape Town have slammed the move to evict residents of Bromwell Street in Woodstock, and urged the City and the developers to accommodate the residents close to where they now live.
A group of residents face eviction and the City has offered them alternative accommodation at far-flung Wolwerivier about 30km outside Cape Town. The residents have rejected the offer and say there are no nearby schools, clinics or transport.
The matter has gone to court and judgment has been reserved.
Bishop Garth Counsell and the Diocesan Chapter of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town called the proposed removals “apartheid-style evictions”.
“It is shocking that the poor have to resort to the courts to fight for their democratic right to a home close to their place of work, school, essential services and livelihood opportunities,” the church leaders said.
“Our Bill of Rights (Act No 108 of 1996) defines that ‘everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing’ and that ‘the State must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of this right’.”
They said the relocation to Wolwerivier would add heavy expenses to the pockets of struggling families and cause further poverty, hardship and emotional trauma.
“The ‘apartheid-style’ evictions are unacceptable under our Constitution and the wealthy should refrain from displacing families for their own ends and turning residents into ‘refugees’ in their own town.”
Brett Herron, mayco member for the transport and urban development authority had previously said “the alternative accommodation offered to these seven households, comprising 16 adults and 11 children, complies with the requirements and obligations imposed on the city by the Constitution and the National Housing Code”.
The church leaders have also appealed to the Woodstock Hub and the courts to “reconsider the proposal to relocate these residents to Wolverivier and to assist the families in finding accommodation closer to their places of work and other services”.