Press Release for Immediate Release Date 4 April 2025
Imagine being told to leave your home with nowhere to go.
That’s the reality facing over 60 people, adults and children, living at 104-106 Darling Street, Cape Town, as the National Minister for Public Works, Dean Macpherson pushes for their urgent eviction— with a materially incomplete and defective eviction application, no proper notice or any plan for where they’ll live.
These families and individuals, some of whom have lived in the building for over 20 years, are taking a stand. With the help of Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre, they’ve filed an opposition to stop this injustice and to ensure that the court is aware of their circumstances.
“While the National Minister’s application cites the apparent inhabitability of the building and seemingly a concern for people’s safety as reasons for pursuing an urgent eviction, he has not substantiated these claims, provided any proof of this or complied with any of the requirements for an urgent eviction order in terms of PIE.“ says Caitlin Turok, attorney for the NU respondents.
The Hard Facts:
- Almost all of the families and individuals represented by Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre will end up homeless if this eviction goes through.
- The median household income is just ZAR 3,900, while basic food costs eat up ZAR 1,500.
- Half of these households have less than ZAR 1,000 left after essentials—formal housing is out of reach.
- Many also support extended family members (“black tax”), making rent even more impossible.
- Some already spend 100%+ of their income on food alone— an eviction would be devastating.
This isn’t just a Cape Town problem. Around the world, the eviction crisis hits the most vulnerable the hardest. The UN and global housing advocates say that governments must provide solutions before displacing people.
“If our Minister really cared about our health.. Why do we have to stay in a building like this? He could help us, because they could see we are busy, we are trying to fix it here. Then, they could help us to build this building back.
Some of us are not working, but we try our best. We collect the money, we put it together, we paint, we even fixed the toilets, we fixed the roof. But why now? Why is he pushing us away instead? Where must we stay? There are no jobs.
But we’ve managed.
At least we are going to be safe now that we are staying here. But instead he wants to throw us out, we must be homeless. Why? Why is it like this? I fail to understand, really…
No, our ministers or our leaders need to look at this. This is not right. I mean, this is really not right at all. Why must we be kicked out? But we already spent the money to fix it. This is our home. Where can we go? Where can you go if you kick us out of this building? This is our home”
says Nozipho Mgwigwi, resident of Darling Street.
CALL TO ACTION:
This fight is bigger than just one building—it’s about keeping cities livable for everyone, not just the wealthy.
#UndoSpatialInjustice
Court Hearing: Wednesday 9 April 2025, Western Cape High Court
- Link to NU Answering Affidavit (note that the personal circumstances of households have been redacted for privacy to the person, except for household 1)
- Link to Eviction Application.
Read more
NGO’s believe Illegal Evictions Act unfairly targets the homeless
Ndifuna Ukwazi warns against changes to the PIE Act
Ndifuna Ukwazi notes the signing of the Expropriation Act into law
