Brief
Cape Town court denies appeal by Woodstock land occupiers
Judge ED Wille said the occupiers had not shown they would be homeless and upheld the earlier eviction order.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Judge ED Wille of the Western Cape High Court refused the occupiers' request for leave to appeal an eviction order affecting more than 160 people living on Transnet-owned land alongside the N1 in Woodstock, Cape Town, according to bizcommunity.com.
The occupiers, represented by Ndifuna Ukwazi, had argued that evicting them without emergency accommodation was unlawful. Wille said the law does not require alternative housing as a pre‑condition for eviction and noted that none of the 106 affidavits filed by occupants indicated they would become homeless.
The judge also rejected the claim that the site was being used for criminal activity, citing City of Cape Town crime statistics that linked the area to over 100 attacks on cyclists, including 27 armed robberies, over eight months.
Attorney Zamuxolo Gulwa of Ndifuna Ukwazi said the group would study the judgment and discuss further legal options. Ward councillor Ian McMahon (DA) said he was monitoring the case and would report back to the community.
Key facts
- Judge ED Wille refused leave to appeal the eviction of over 160 occupants on Transnet land in Woodstock. (bizcommunity.com)
- The occupiers had filed 106 affidavits, none of which claimed they would be homeless after eviction. (bizcommunity.com)
- The City of Cape Town presented crime statistics showing more than 100 attacks on cyclists, including 27 armed robberies, in the eight months preceding the case. (bizcommunity.com)
- Attorney Zamuxolo Gulwa said Ndifuna Ukwazi would review the judgment and consider further legal steps. (bizcommunity.com)
- Ward councillor Ian McMahon (DA) said he would keep the community informed about the case. (bizcommunity.com)
Sources
- [1] bizcommunity.com — originally reported as “Woodstock land occupiers lose bid to appeal eviction”
