Plan to move illegal occupants to suburbs sparks legal fight

Residents of Tshwane are protesting the city's plan to relocate hundreds of illegal occupants from the Melgisedek building to the Capital Park community center. The Melgisedek building, a neglected property in Pretoria, has been the site of overcrowding, illegal occupation, and partial demolition. Despite this, Tshwane intends to move the occupants to Capital Park.

The city has faced legal opposition twice, with the DA and AfriForum seeking court relief, which has halted the initial relocation attempt. Concerned Capital Park resident Mercia Pretorius is worried about the proximity of the relocated occupants to a primary school, particularly since some of the illegal residents have drug problems.

Caprra, the Capital Park Residents and Ratepayers Association, is aware of these concerns and has not been consulted or given consent for the relocation. A security and stakeholder meeting has been scheduled, and Caprra representatives have expressed their displeasure, stating they were not consulted and do not approve of using the community center for this purpose.

Freedom Front Plus mayoral candidate Willie Spies has pledged to help prevent the relocation from turning Gezina and Capital Park into crime-ridden areas. The city announced the relocation after the Supreme Court of Appeal rejected a second application by Lawyers for Human Rights to stop it. However, DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink expressed concern that the tented camp in Gezina is not suitable accommodation, lacking basic water and sanitation.

AfriForum spokesperson Llewellynn Hemmens criticized the city for disregarding residents' rights and safety.