Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Rivergate residents refuse to move despite eviction notice
RESIDENTS of Rivergate informal settlement in Dunoon said they have nowhere to go after they were served with an eviction notice last week as the land is preserved for conservation.
Community members protested outside the Western Cape High Court last Friday, three days after they were served with an eviction notice from the City of Cape Town.
Armed with court papers, residents said if they moved from the land, they would lose their livelihood.
The 230-strong community came into existence during lockdown.
A resident, Patiswa Gaja, said she had sustained her family by running a business that sold detergents but often her goods would be destroyed by wind and rain.
“In August 2020, rain and wind blew my shop away. Now we have this eviction letter which we didn’t know about until a few days ago and I am starting to lose hope. I will be homeless, where will I start again? What will happen to my shop?”
Community leader Buhle Mpande said at times the residents faced arrest and their shacks would be destroyed.
He said they were in need of legal advice and assistance.
“Last Saturday, four people were arrested and two shacks removed by law enforcement. We need help from a lawyer because we did not know about this eviction until last week.”
Deputy mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews, said the City had since obtained an interdict for any illegal occupation of the land and they needed to leave.
He said the residents who were arrested were illegal occupants.
The community has since claimed they had been granted until this month to leave.
Andrews said the land was a conservation issue.
“During the Covid-19 lockdown period, Erf 79 Rivergate, Dunoon, was unlawfully occupied. There are an estimated 230 informal structures on site. The occupants have no access to services, including water and sanitation.
“The notices to vacate served on March 22 are a precursor to commencing with formal eviction proceedings against the unlawful occupants in terms of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE).
“The City previously obtained an order from the Western Cape High Court interdicting any further unlawful occupation of Erf 79, Rivergate. This order did not operate as an eviction order against the current unlawful occupants.
“The City is required to institute separate legal proceedings against those occupiers in terms of the PIE.
“Should they fail to vacate the land as indicated in the notices, the City will launch formal eviction proceedings in terms of the PIE. We understand four people were arrested by law enforcement on Saturday. The land is of significance to Cape Town’s biodiversity targets as it houses endangered veld types.
“Due to its significance to conservation, it will be incorporated with the bordering Table Bay Nature Reserve in future.
“The land is also situated in a floodplain area. As such, it is unsuitable for habitation given as it presents a flood risk to the occupants, as well as to adjacent and downstream properties.”
Police did not respond to queries about the arrests.