Judgment to be Delivered Tomorrow in Landmark Case

19 December 2024
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Judgment to be Delivered Tomorrow in Landmark Case

The judgment in the matter between the City of Cape Town and the Bromwell Street community in Cape Town will be handed down tomorrow in the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

This matter was brought forward by Ndifuna Ukwazi, who represents the community. Abahlali are amicus curiae, a friend of the court, represented by the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI).

The case will determine how well-located land must be used. The City of Cape Town wants to relocate a community that is established and has been residing in this area for many years to an area that is 30 km away from the city. This repeats the logic of apartheid spatial planning.

Abahlali baseMjondolo has been struggling for well-located land to be provided for the poor and marginalised for the past 19 years. The poor have the same right to access the cities as everyone else. We deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. We need to be treated like human beings, not human waste to be dumped in human dumping grounds like Wolwerivier and Blikkiesdorp. These human dumping grounds are without opportunities for work and education. Transportation is very scarce, and there is no access to the pleasures and possibilities of urban life.

This judgment is very important for our movement and all organisations that struggle and advocate for well-located land to be made available for the poor, for the social value of land to be given more weight than its commercial value. The judgment will be very important for all those across the country who face eviction from well-located land to human dumping grounds.

Contact:

Mqapheli Bonono 073 067 3274
Thapelo Mohapi 084 576 5117
Zandile Nsibande 073 611 8279