Illegal occupants living at Irene Grootboom House in Darling Street say they do not want to move from the derelict building even though they face eviction.
About 30 occupants living at the building braved rainy conditions outside the Western Cape High Court on Thursday to challenge being booted from the site.
Inside the court, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s lawyers sought an urgent eviction order for the occupants to vacate the property.
Irene Grootboom House
Fifty-three-year-old Leon Madabuka has been living at Irene Grootboom House in Darling Street for 15 years.
Madabuka says he moved into the derelict building from Gugulethu because it’s close to his workplace in the CBD.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has turned to the court to evict the occupants, citing illegal occupation and unsafe living conditions.
Madabuka said the occupants were warned about the building.
“They say because that building is not a stable building and the building is going to collapse on us.”
He said the occupants were aware the building was in a bad state but they do not want to move.
“Nobody wants to move out there. They say it’s their place. It’s their house. They stay there. They don’t want to move nowhere. They’re going to stay there forever. I feel the same. It’s my home.”
The Western Cape High Court has ordered government officials to meaningfully engage with the occupants to find alternative accommodation.
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