City of Cape Town Knew About Lwandle Evictions – Sanral Employees

Mara Ispas
Lwandle Evictees Still Living In Community Hall

Representatives of South Africa’s road agency, Sanral, on Tuesday told the Nomzamo Commission of Inquiry the City of Cape Town knew what was happening each step of the way.

“My honest opinion was that I was under the impression at all times that at least the City was aware of all steps at all times,” said Sanral’s Fiona Bester.

Bester was not alone in her testimony that the City was aware of the planned evictions. Sanral’s Shaun Hornby told the commission Sanral and the municipality were in agreement to purchase land where the Lwandle evictees would be moved to.

Earlier on Tuesday, Johan Burger, the sheriff of the court in Strand, Cape Town, told the commission the City was provided with a detailed weather report that was downloaded off the internet. He said officials decided to proceed with the evictions because no rain was forecast at the time.

Burger said city officials attended several meetings that took place before the evictions. He said the removals would have been carried out sooner, but he was told to postpone them until after the 7 May elections.

The City of Cape Town has denied it was involved in planning the evictions, or that it was aware when they would be carried out.

In the beginning of June hundreds of homes were demolished and families were forcefully removed from the land, most losing everything they owned. Families sought shelter in community halls in attempt to escape the icy Cape conditions at the time.

The commission was established by Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to look into the circumstances which led to the forced removals. The City of Cape Town and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille have criticized the commission, accusing it of having a political agenda.

photo credit: Sinsistema via photopin cc


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