The housing advocacy group, Ndifuna Ukwazi, has threatened urgent legal action against the City of Cape Town, accusing it of defying a Western Cape High Court order after it prevented people from rebuilding structures on a plot of land in Kensington. 

The organisation said the City’s actions violate an interim court order granted on Saturday, 31 October 2026, which allowed affected residents to rebuild their demolished structures at the Gate 7 informal settlement, and prohibited the municipality and its law enforcement officials from interfering. 

Ndifuna Ukwazi lawyer Caitlin Turok said enforcement officials remained at the site despite the court order. 

“They are attempting to stop clients from rebuilding their structures, despite the acknowledgement that the City and law enforcement have no lawful authority in this matter to demolish any structures. The site is owned by Ndabeni Communal Property Trust, and only the Ndabeni Communal Property Trust can obtain an eviction order to remove my clients,” said Turok.  

The dispute comes after City law enforcement teams reportedly responded to complaints from residents when about 50 people began erecting structures on the erf on Voortrekker Road, claiming that only six community members had permission from the court to do so. The land belongs to the Ndabeni Communal Property Trust. 

READ MORE: City keeps watch in Kensington after attempted land invasion – Smile 90.4FM

Ndifuna Ukwazi maintains that the City’s conduct infringes residents’ constitutional rights and undermines the rule of law. 

Turok added that she is “appalled” by the City’s actions, noting that Ndifuna Ukwazi had contacted the City’s legal representatives, demanding urgent compliance with the order. 

“Ndifuna Ukwazi has instructions to launch urgent contempt of court proceedings,” Turok warned, should the City fail to comply.