Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Concourt to rule on Slovo eviction

The Constitutional Court is to rule on Wednesday on a bid by about 20 000 residents of Joe Slovo informal settlement on the Cape Flats to overturn an eviction order.

Thubelisha Homes, the national government's housing agency, wants to move them 15km to Delft, to make room for formal housing being built under the N2 Gateway project.

Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe granted the eviction order in March last year, and the challenge was argued in the Constitutional Court in August.

The residents have contested the validity of the order, saying among other things that it is not just and equitable.

They say they have a legitimate expectation that 70 percent of the houses in the new development should be allocated to Joe Slovo residents.

In September 2007 they clashed violently with police over the evictions.

Some partly-constructed homes on the Slovo site were damaged, and several people arrested.

Joe Slovo is one of Cape Town's biggest informal settlements, containing about 4,500 crowded shacks.

It is 10km from the city centre. - Sapa

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