Press release: Occupation of N2 Gateway houses by Delft backyarders

The Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign supports backyarders in Delft, who, in pain and frustration at being on housing waiting lists for years and in some cases for decades, have peacefully occupied more than 100 N2 Gateway houses in Delft. The WCAEC applauds the councillor who assisted these backyarders in this occupation and calls for no charges to be laid against him. Authorities have threatened these people with eviction at 5am on Friday 21st. The WCAEC opposes these threats and stands in solidarity with the backyarders resistance to eviction. The WCAEC particularly warns the police not to use violence against the backyarders. These houses were mostly intended by government and Thubelisha homes for residents of Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa. But the residents of Joe Slovo do not want to move to Delft. They want government and Thubelisha to build houses for them in Joe Slovo. All this is the fiasco of the ill-thought out N2 Gateway ‘pilot project’ which was planned and is being implemented without adequate participation by the communities whom it is intended to benefit, and hence is failing at every turn.

For further information contact Mzonke Poni at 0732562036