Activist organisation Ndifuna Ukwazi has accused the City of Cape Town of conducting an unlawful eviction in District Six, marking the latest flashpoint in a long-standing legal struggle over land occupation in the area. The incident, which reportedly took place on 19 June 2026, allegedly involved the removal of residents from a parking lot on Sydney Street and resulted in a man falling from a structure during the City’s enforcement operation.
Legal And Historical Tensions Over Land Access
District Six remains a highly contested area due to the history of forced removals during the apartheid era, with persistent disputes surfacing between the City’s enforcement of municipal bylaws and the protections offered to occupiers under the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE). Ndifuna Ukwazi has frequently challenged the City’s methods in court, arguing that authorities are circumventing the constitutional requirement for judicial oversight before removing individuals from their homes.
“The City must be considerate of the supreme law of this country and the Constitution… You cannot remove people from their home under this state of disaster,” said Ranjan Jaga, an attorney for Ndifuna Ukwazi, during previous litigation regarding similar eviction practices.
Procedural Requirements And Ongoing Disputes
The Cape High Court previously ruled against the City in October 2021 regarding similar removals at the Sydney Street site, finding that officials had failed to follow proper legal procedures mandated by the PIE Act. The current accusations follow a pattern of litigation, including a separate court order granted in December 2025 regarding families in nearby, historically significant settlements in Searle Street.
The City of Cape Town is expected to face mounting pressure to clarify the legal basis of its latest enforcement activities as investigations into the incident continue. Further details regarding the status of the injured individual and potential court interventions are expected to follow in the coming weeks.