Cape Town Mayor slams SAHRC's 'politicised' court bid to interdict municipal property releases - IOL

City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the city will oppose the South African Human Rights Commission's court application to interdict the transfer of municipal sites.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City of Cape Town will vigorously oppose the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) court application to stop the transfer of 49 municipal buildings. 

Hill-Lewis on Thursday slammed the SAHRC for filing the court bid one week before the elections and years after some municipal properties had undergone an extensive land release process, including public participation. 

The mayor said the City had addressed the SAHRC’s initial enquiries made six months ago, and the commission had raised no objections and had not raised similar objections in other cities. 

On Wednesday, the Commission filed an application at the Western Cape High Court, arguing that the City had not followed proper processes before auctioning off the properties. 

The SAHRC said the City's decision to auction the properties was unconstitutional, unlawful, irrational and invalid. It said the City of Cape Town failed to comply with constitutional and statutory obligations related to housing, spatial justice, public participation and the disposal of municipal land. 

In response, Hill-Lewis said the 49 properties include 28 residential-zoned properties that will serve the local demand for housing in various areas, including Mitchells Plain, Maitland, Goodwood, Kraaifontein, Somerset West and Durbanville. 

The mayor added that commercial and industrial opportunities were available during the public auction process in February, which are set to create employment and economic activity in Atlantis, Mitchells Plain, Delft and Parow. 

Hill-Lewis said the City had engaged the SAHRC extensively and provided the full details of the sites and their suitability for commercial, industrial, or residential opportunities.

He also argued that the City has released 14 sites for affordable housing, including six inner-city sites that have created a combined 7,000 residential units, 4,000 affordable housing units and 2,500 social housing units.

The mayor said the City plans to release 39 more sites that will generate a total of 40,000 units, including 21,000 affordable housing units and 1,500 social housing units.

Hill-Lewis said that instead of leaving municipal land idle, the City is leveraging it for economic development, social good, and affordable housing opportunities. 

He added that the municipal land release generates R628 million for service delivery and creates jobs and investment. 

The mayor added that the City maintains around 50,000 council rental units, which are heavily subsidised and cost the municipality R977 million a year.