Protesters from the Siyangena informal settlement in Philippi have been protesting for weeks, demanding services, but the settlement is on private land.
Residents, who began occupying the site in 2018, have resisted eviction for years, even as the landowners, Oasis Crescent Property Company, obtained an order from the Western Cape High Court directing the sheriff to remove the occupiers.
Around 500 people, mostly backyarders from Philippi, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Langa, initially moved onto the land in 2018, which is adjacent to the Philippi Village business hub. The number of residents has since grown, although the exact figure remains unclear.
In early and late September, protesters blocked the busy intersection at New Eisleben and Bristol roads in Philippi with burning branches, mattresses and rocks.
On Wednesday, 7 October, protests erupted again, during which protesters set fire to several traffic lights.
They are demanding that the City negotiate with the landowners to install electricity and services. Most households currently rely on illegal connections.
The City of Cape Town said in a statement that the area falls within an Eskom supply area.
Philippi Village response
Leaders of Philippi Village business hub say the City recently approached them regarding the possible use of a portion of its land to temporarily relocate residents from Siyangena.
But they say there are several challenges that will prevent this, including that the land requested for use is not zoned for residential use, is flood-prone in winter, and crucially, that it forms part of Philippi Village’s current and future community development plans.
“These plans encompass community programmes, businesses, livelihood initiatives, green spaces, and facilities designed to benefit the broader Philippi community. Using this land for residential settlement could compromise these existing commitments and limit future opportunities for community-focused use.”
Despite this, Philippi Village says Siyangena is their neighbour and part of the Philippi community they serve.
Over the years, Philippi Village says it has responded to the urgent needs of Siyangena, including providing temporary toilets and maintaining their cleanliness, as well as engaging with the City of Cape Town regarding a sustainable sanitation solution.
“In March 2020, we granted the City permission to install toilets in Siyangena. When flooding and sewage overflow affected residents in 2020, we provided a temporary site and arranged for containers to be used as emergency shelter.”
The business hub has called for ongoing dialogue and a “clear, actionable response from the City of Cape Town” regarding the housing and service delivery challenges facing Siyangena.
