Category

Evictions

Oct 31
0

Castle of Good Hope eviction ‘is happening soon’, says Cape Town mayor

By | Eviction news, Evictions

Reprinted from News24, by Marvin Charles – 2024-10-30

  • Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced the imminent eviction of homeless people living outside the Castle of Good Hope during a council meeting on Wednesday.
  • The eviction date was initially set for 17 October, but more than ten days have passed since then.
  • The Department of Public Works obtained an eviction order in the Western Cape High Court in September.

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the eviction of a group of homeless people living outside the Castle of Good Hope in the CBD is imminent.

More than 10 days have passed since the eviction date, which was set for 17 October.

Responding to questions during a full council sitting on Wednesday, Hill-Lewis said: “Once Public Works obtained the eviction order, with the City supporting the eviction, it is carried out by the sheriff of the court.

“The date has been set for the eviction. Obviously it is confidential, but it is happening soon.”

Hill-Lewis said the eviction of the group of homeless people who have been staying outside the Castle of Good Hope would be an “important” milestone.

“That has been the site of really terrible dereliction and urban decay for the last four or five years, and it’s been a very difficult problem to solve,” he added.

“It is a source of great regret for me that it has taken this long.”

The mayor’s announcement comes after a fire broke out at the Castle on Wednesday morning, but the blaze was quickly extinguished.

According to spokesperson for the City’s Fire and Rescue Service, Jermaine Carelse, the City’s firefighters responded to a call on Wednesday morning of structures alight in the vicinity of the Castle of Good Hope.

Three structures were destroyed, and five people were displaced.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established.

In September, the Western Cape High Court ordered that the group vacate the property by 17 October, following an eviction application from the national Department of Public Works.

According to the order, the City of Cape Town must provide alternative accommodation for the homeless people in safe spaces.

Hill-Lewis said there had been zero cooperation from two former public works ministers on the issue.

“Most residents usually accept the offer of alternative accommodation at the last minute when they are being evicted. It’s a sad thing because it could save us months in court if they accept the offer,” he said.

According to the City, the 358-year-old castle, which is a national heritage site, has seen a significant decline in visitors in recent times.

Living in makeshift tents, the homeless people have been using the moat that surrounds the castle for ablution purposes and dumping their waste.

For further information

Simon Dippenaar & Associates, Inc. is a law firm of specialist eviction lawyers in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. We help landlords and tenants maintain healthy working relationships. Contact one of our eviction attorneys on 086 099 5146 or simon@sdlaw.co.za if you need help with tenants’ rights or landlords’ responsibilities.

Further reading:

Oct 07
0

Single mother faces eviction threat after 30 years in family home

By | Eviction news, Evictions, Tenants

Shanaaz Dyason, 40, claims that the City of Cape Town is attempting to remove her from the house she has lived in for the past 30 years.

Reprinted from iol.co.za, by Marsha Dean – 2024-10-05

The property, located on Fir Tree Road, originally belonged to her parents, who were forcefully removed by the Apartheid government and relocated to flats in Lavender Hill.

In 1994, the family was permitted to return to their home, and since then, Dyason has resided there with her three children and grandchild.

Dyason has faced ongoing issues regarding the transfer of the house into her name for the past 14 years.

“When my parents got divorced, they both moved out of the house and went their separate ways. My mother and I then went to the rent office, and we explained that I still live in the house. They said the tenancy would be transferred over to me as I was of age,” she explained.

However, in 2010, Dyason received an eviction order, which threatened to send her back to Lavender Hill. The City offered her a one-bedroom flat in Plumstead, but she refused.

Later, she was taken to court, where the judge ruled that she was not illegal and was indeed eligible for the house, instructing the City to sign a lease with her.

“I signed a lease, but a couple of years later, the house is still not in my name. It’s been 14 years, and until today, nothing has been resolved,” Dyason lamented.

“My water keeps getting cut off, and I have to pay over R3000 just to have it reconnected, which consumes all the SASSA money meant for my children. I am paying R2300 a month for electricity to cover housing debt. Since the lease is not in my name, I cannot sort anything out. Every month, I go to the municipality, and they say the hold-up is with the rent office.”

Desperately, she stated, “I am at my wits’ end and don’t know what to do anymore. I have already lost my job because every month I need to stay out to go to the rent office and submit new papers.”

In response, Councillor Carl Pophaim, the Mayco Member for Human Settlements, stated, “The City can confirm that no eviction application is underway as alleged.

“The tenancy was allocated to Shanaaz Dyason, and she signed a lease agreement with the City on 21 September 2023. We encourage Mrs Dyason to visit her nearest City housing office to complete all the documentation needed to take ownership of the property.”

However, the City claims that the property address matter has been resolved and that the resident should visit her housing office as soon as possible.

For further information

Simon Dippenaar & Associates, Inc. is a law firm of specialist eviction lawyers in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. We help landlords and tenants maintain healthy working relationships. Contact one of our eviction attorneys on 086 099 5146 or simon@sdlaw.co.za if you need help with tenants’ rights or landlords’ responsibilities.

Further reading:

Aug 14
0

Pitfalls of eviction

By | Evictions, PIE, Tenants

How to avoid the traps that will scupper an eviction

Have you reached the end of the line with problem tenants? You’ve tried negotiating, pleading, and maybe even formal mediation, but you can’t resolve your differences and your tenants are in breach of their lease. Eviction is a last resort. It’s not a pleasant process and you may even like your recalcitrant tenants and want to avoid conflict. Eviction is time-consuming and costly, both in the short and long term. Eviction itself carries costs but, worse, your property might remain unoccupied for a while before you find suitable new tenants, depriving you of income. Unfortunately, sometimes eviction is necessary. If you do have to evict your tenants, how can you avoid the pitfalls and make sure you meet the correct conditions for eviction?

Read our Complete 2025 Guide to Evictions in South Africa.

Legislation

Evictions in South Africa are governed by the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE). The Rental Housing Act and the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) set out further conditions that must be met before an eviction can proceed. Property owners often make mistakes that prolong the eviction process. Avoid them for a hassle-free eviction. We go through the most common blunders below.

Failure to provide proper notice 

The conditions required for a lawful eviction to proceed are set out in the legislation cited above. Importantly, you must give your tenant sufficient notice in the correct manner. To evict a tenant you must give them notice of the breach and time to rectify the breach. If the breach is not rectified within the specified time frame, you can then terminate the lease. If the tenant does not agree to vacate the premises, you may apply to the court for an eviction order. Failure to follow the correct procedures can result in the eviction being declared unlawful and dismissed. 

Inadequate documentation 

A well-drafted lease agreement is essential and records should be kept of all communications with the tenant, especially regarding rental arrears and notices. The legal burden is on you to prove in court that the eviction is both just and right. Therefore, make sure you have sufficient evidence to back up the claim.

No valid reason for eviction 

You must have a valid and legal reason for evicting someone. Common reasons include non-payment of rent, breach of the lease agreement or the need to use the property for personal use. The eviction must be based on legitimate grounds. 

DIY evictions 

Landlords sometimes attempt to evict a tenant alone, without going through the courts. It is illegal to take the law into your own hands and forcibly evict tenants or cut off essential services such as water and electricity without a court order. Removing a tenant using threats, intimidation, harassment, or physical altercation opens the door for tenants to pursue criminal action against you. 

Incomplete maintenance and repairs 

Failure to address maintenance issues promptly can be used by tenants as a defence during eviction proceedings. You have a responsibility to maintain a safe and habitable property and you cannot purposefully make the property uninhabitable in any way. You should complete essential repairs or maintenance promptly. 

Failure to take legal advice 

One of the most common eviction mistakes is failing to take professional advice. Consulting a legal professional experienced in evictions and property law is crucial to making sure you follow the correct eviction process. Evictions are stressful and complicated; an understanding of the applicable laws is vital. The process can drag on and you may be tempted to take shortcuts, usually out of frustration. However, the consequences of not following the proper steps can be significant and result in further delays, costs, and possible legal action. 

Consult an eviction specialist

Simon Dippenaar & Associates, Inc. is a law firm of specialist eviction lawyers in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. We help landlords and tenants maintain healthy working relationships but, when necessary, we assist with eviction, ensuring it is carried out legally and ethically. Contact one of our eviction attorneys on 086 099 5146 or simon@sdlaw.co.za if you need help with an eviction.

Further reading: