Monday 18th June 2006
2pm

About nine families at Conifer Court, Sea Point, will be defending an application to evict them in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court this Wednesday 20th June 2007.

The residents are all originally from the rural areas. They have been staying in Conifers Court for 15 to 20 years. They do not have other families in the city who could take them in if they were evicted.

The residents are objecting to the eviction on the basis that they do not have alternative accommodation, their children attend schools in Sea Point, and they are viewing the attempted eviction as another form of forced removal disguised as 2010 gentrification.

“Our rental was good enough for Conifers Pty Ltd for the past 15 years but suddenly it is not good enough because they want to enrich themselves for the 2010 World Cup”, said Ronwynne Kahari of the Conifers Anti-Eviction Tenants Committee.

Since the management company decided to evict the residents, the residents have faced much intimidation. The management company increased the rent by a huge amount, failed to carry out maintenance on the building, stopped collecting refuse, and tampered with the water and electricity supply.

The community is being supported by other anti-eviction committees facing gentrification, such as the Gympie Street Residents Committee which last year won a legal battle to go back to homes after being evicted and sleeping outside on the pavement for three weeks.

…/ends

FOR COMMENT CALL:

RONWYNNE KAHARI: 078 564 4656 (MEDIA LIASON- CONIFERS ANTI EVICTION TENANTS COMMITTEE)

ASHRAF CASSIEM: 082 480 5489 ( WESTERN CAPE ANTI EVICTION CAMPAIGN )