Families living at Irene Grootboom House in central Cape Town are once again facing uncertainty after an urgent eviction case brought against them by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure was postponed for the second time.

The case, which was meant to be heard in the Western Cape High Court this week, was delayed to July 29, 2025 following a request by the department.

The wait continues for the more than 30 residents of the state-owned building at 104 Darling Street, some of whom have lived there for over 20 years.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said: “We were ready for court. Now we’re told we must wait again. We’ve lived here since before many of our children were born.”

Legal representatives from the Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre, acting on behalf of the residents, confirmed that the postponement was agreed to by all parties to allow time for the department and the City of Cape Town to discuss possible emergency housing options, should eviction be granted.

These discussions must take place before the court can set a date for a hearing.

Attorney Ruth Stein said the case was first brought in February this year but had failed to proceed on both occasions it was set down.

“The department has not yet presented its full case before the court. In the meantime, our clients continue to live in uncertainty,” she said.

Residents of the building are members of the Reclaim the City campaign, and say they were originally tenants when the building was still under private management.

They say the department took over the property more than a decade ago but failed to offer them any alternative housing or engage with them about their future.

The building, known as Irene Grootboom House, is named after the late housing activist whose name was central to a 2000 Constitutional Court ruling that confirmed the state’s responsibility to provide access to adequate housing for vulnerable people.

City of Cape Town councillor and GOOD party member Axolile Notywala attended the court proceedings, and said the case affects more than just the Darling Street residents.

“There are thousands of others in similar situations. These families are living in public buildings because they have nowhere else to go.”

He cited a recent response to a parliamentary question from Western Cape Human Settlements MEC Tertuis Simmers, which confirmed that more than 431,000 people are currently on Cape Town’s housing waiting list.

The eviction application is one of several involving occupation of unused public buildings in Cape Town’s inner city, including Woodstock Hospital and the Helen Bowden Nurses Home in Sea Point, where around 2,000 people are believed to be living.

Ndifuna Ukwazi said it remains unclear whether the department intends to amend its application or withdraw it altogether.

“We are engaging with the city and department to determine what emergency accommodation, if any, will be offered to residents, and they will have the right to respond,” said Stein.

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za

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