As Public Works Minister Fails to Appear in Court
Reporter – George April
Cape Town:- Residents of Darling Street, facing an urgent eviction application brought by the National Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, were left in limbo.
This after the minister’s legal representatives failed to appear in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday. The case, which was set to be heard on 9 April, was meant to determine the fate of the Darling Street residents. However, upon arrival at court, the residents represented by Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre, found that the State Attorney had neither set the matter down for hearing, nor communicated their absence. The lack of response to repeated calls and emails from Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre over the past week, has raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of the urgency claimed in the minister’s application.
Residents, many of whom had to take unpaid leave or miss a day’s wages, expressed frustration and distress at the uncertainty surrounding their homes. The National Minister’s failure to have the matter properly enrolled, despite claiming extraordinary urgency, has been seen as an abuse of process and a disregard for the well-being of the Darling Street community.
“The answering affidavit we filed on behalf of the residents on 27 March clearly outlines the fundamental flaws in the minister’s application. The necessary reports proving the building’s inhabitability were not provided, and due legal process was not followed,” stated Ndifuna Ukwazi attorney Caitlin Turok. “Launching a fatally defective eviction application on an urgent basis, without solid evidence, and then failing to show up for the very hearing they requested, demonstrates a complete disregard for the rights of Darling Street residents.”
While no eviction order was granted, the community remains under immense stress. The uncertainty surrounding their future continues to weigh heavily on them, as they await clarity on the next legal steps. Many fear that the eviction threat will resurface, adding to the anxiety of an already vulnerable community.
The National Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure has yet to issue a statement addressing the absence of their legal team and the concerns raised by Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre. As the residents brace for further legal proceedings, their fight for fair treatment and due process continues.
