Aug
15
2022
The short answer
You can apply for a FLISP grant as part of the government's “Help-Me-Buy-a-Home” scheme
The whole question
Dear GroundUp
I earn R9,000 a month. This means that I don't qualify for an RDP house, but I also can't get a home loan from the bank. I want my own house. What can I do?
The long answer
The objective of the Finance...
Jun
03
2022
Future of Driftsands Nature Reserve uncertain
By Siphokazi Mnyobe
The Driftsands Nature Reserve in Cape Town, which has been occupied by thousands of families, has lost its value as a nature reserve, according to the Western Cape government.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning intends to de-proclaim the reserve.
Meanwhile some of the families who moved onto the land...
Apr
27
2022
Women on Farms march against evictions in the Western Cape
27 April 2022 | By Liezl Human
Farm worker evictions are likely to spike with the end of the National State of Disaster, Women on Farms (WFP) has warned.
WFP said when cases already on the court roll were processed, thousands of workers and their families would be evicted.
About 100 women marched...
Apr
14
2022
We need a comprehensive approach to site and service schemes
By Noah Schermbrucker, Mirjam van Donk and Jens Horber
A drastic change to housing policy in South Africa is in the institutional pipeline. From a delivery model centred on subsidised houses, the state is to shift focus to site and service schemes. But there is very little clarity as to how this will work, and...
Apr
04
2022
Human Rights Commission urges city to move away from ‘us and them’ mentality when it comes to homelessness
By Marecia Damons
A report by the Human Rights Commission into homelessness in Cape Town found a lack of ablution facilities, clean water and homeless shelters for families.
The report follows the City’s amended by-law that provides for compliance notices to be issued...
Mar
25
2022
The Socio-Economic Rights Institute says that Johannesburg’s Central Magistrate’s Court is often not applying the relevant laws
By Masego Mafata
The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) has analysed 47 of the 65 evictions granted by the Johannesburg Central Magistrate’s Court from 2013 to 2018.
Most of the cases were over non-payment of a monthly rental.
In the vast majority...
Sep
09
2021
Happiness Village’s residents fear for their lives and face unlawful evictions, beatings and intimidation, legal action and shack demolitions
By Kimberly Mutandiro
Since their unlawful eviction from their homes at the Marievale military base in 2017, the residents of Happiness Village informal settlement have fought for their right to remain on army land.
In and out of court ever since, helped...
Aug
30
2021
Municipality has tried to back out of settlement to buy unlawfully occupied buildings
By Tania Broughton
An agreement made an order of the court last year required the City of Ekurhuleni to buy 16 unlawfully occupied buildings using provincial funds.
The agreement put an end to years of legal wrangling between the City, the province, the occupiers and the owners of...
Aug
25
2021
Covid-19 triggered a plan to move families from overcrowded Dunoon informal settlements, but more than a year later, they’re still there
By Peter Luhanga
The Racing Park Developers’ Association wants to overturn the sale of industrial land to the Western Cape Human Settlements Department.
The association has already unsuccessfully appealed against the rezoning of the land for mixed-use housing of 1,500...
Aug
12
2021
City of Cape Town says national government slow to release “well-located” land for affordable housing
By Marecia Damons
Land and housing legal support organisations Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU) and Reclaim the City (RTC) say the City of Cape Town is moving too slowly on its promises to create affordable housing.
In July 2017, the City announced that 11 pieces of public land in the...