Protestors in Green Point demand City of Cape Town to halt auction of prime properties

• A small group of people protested outside the Cape Town Stadium earlier on Thursday morning (23 November), demanding that the auction of several prime properties across the City of Cape Town be scrapped.
• The auction of over 86 000m2 of industrial and commercial land across 12 sites took place at the Business Lounge at the stadium.
• The City, however, says all the properties have been assessed and are 'not required for municipal purposes'.

A small group of people protested outside the DHL Stadium earlier on Thursday morning (23 November), demanding that the auction of several prime properties across the City of Cape Town be scrapped.

The auction of over 86 000m2 of industrial and commercial land across 12 sites took place at the Business Lounge at the stadium. The sites include commercial kiosks in the CBD and Simon’s Town, and a prime commercial site in Century City.

According to the City, all the properties have been assessed and are 'not required for municipal purposes'.

However, Karen Hendricks, a leader of the Reclaim the City Movement, holds a different view. She says the City has not built any houses in the inner city since 1994. "We are saying enough is enough. Housing and land cannot be used for profit. Land has to be used for people, especially those who have lived in these areas for decades.

Hendricks adds: "Since 1994 until now, we expected the City to not fail in its obligation to build houses in the inner city and well-located areas like the CBD, Woodstock and Green Point."

According to Hendricks, not enough is being done to address the housing crisis in Cape Town.

"We are saying that the City now, even in the midst of a housing crisis, is not offering any solutions to the housing crisis by selling off the best public land and public buildings when people who are on the City's housing waiting list for decades do not yet live in proper homes."

The opening bid for a property in New Church Street, Gardens, stood at R10 million.

Hazel Matipa (57) and her family have lived at the property for over 10 years and she does not know where to go. "I am not sure what the future holds for me. I received a letter in October stating that the City plans to sell the properties.

"I asked them what are my options. They said I must contact the writer. I did and up until today, no reply," she explains.