Green Point building occupants won’t budge

ALMOST four years after they illegally occupied the Helen Bowden Nursing Home in Green Point, there is no sign of better housing or living conditions for the 350 families who live there.

The occupants said clashes between activist groups Ndifunukwazi and Reclaim the City (RTC) had intensified, leaving them with no choice but to stand on their own.

“We are not agreeing on a number of things,” said leader Pheah Mopsoko.

Mopsoko said the 350 families lived in the dark building with no running water and no electricity, but they would not move until a development which met their needs was approved.

Spokesperson for Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, Bianca Capazario, confirmed the government would continue with its plan to develop and rezone.

The site is classified as falling outside the legislative area where national subsidies for social housing could be accessed.

“We understand that the city has applied for the land in question to be classified as a restructuring zone, in which case the social housing grant will then apply.”

Capazario said a mixed-use development for the site was in progress.

“The proposed mixed-use development known as the Somerset Precinct, of which Helen Bowden is only one part, has been approved by the City of Cape Town and further planning subsequent to that approval is now in progress.

“The Western Cape government is committed.”

Since 2017, RTC has abetted illegal occupations of three buildings in the inner city and surrounds: Helen Bowden Nursing Home; the Woodstock Hospital; and a building at 104 Darling Street in the city centre.

With a housing backlog of over 550 000, spokesperson for the Department of Human Settlements Marcellino Martin said the department had a number of housing projects in the pipeline for the city centre.