Our Stories

Land for People, Not for Profit!

We are labelled many things we are not – criminals, queue jumpers to mention a few. Here we control our own narrative, you can engage with our raw unfiltered stories, our struggles and our resilience.

Welcome to our stories about us, for us: connect with our daily lived stories.

Podcasts

Radio and podcasts

Reclaim the City has, through one of its projects, given a long-term home to over 1,000 people in Woodstock.

“Land for People, Not for Profit” How Unhoused People in Cape Town turned an abandoned hospital into community

Cissie Gool House was an abandoned hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, empty and decaying for 40 years, when homeless activists snuck past security on the night of March 27, 2017, and began an occupation that, seven years later, has transformed it into a vibrant self-governing community of 1,000 formerly homeless, evicted, and displaced people. Two leaders of Cissie Gool House, Karen Hendricks and Fagmeedah Ling, join host Desire Wandan to discuss how the residents themselves renovated the building, set up working committees to deal with elder, youth, maintenance and security issues, and expanded their occupation into a movement that now convenes “Peoples’ Assemblies” to teach others about tenants’ rights, fights evictions, monitors the housing courts, and agitates for enforcement of South Africa’s constitution, which declares that, “everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing.” Listen here: https://eastsideinstitute.podbean.com/e/women-lead-the-fight-for-housing-rights/
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Youtube

In the early hours of Monday, the Solidarity Space attempted to meet with Premier Alan Winde at his residence after he refused a formal meeting with us. We intended to present the following demands, but Premier Winde was escorted by heavy police instead These are the key demands 1.⁠ ⁠Account for Returned Funds: We demand an explanation for the return of R500 million allocated for human settlements and informal settlement upgrades. This is unacceptable, given the severe housing crisis, especially among those in poverty. 2.⁠ ⁠Utilisation of Provincial Parking Lots: We submitted a report in May on converting three Provincial parking lots (including the Parliament parking lot) into housing, potentially creating over 2,000 homes. We request action on this proposal and a concrete plan for repurposing these sites. 3.⁠ ⁠Release of Tafelberg Site: We demand the Tafelberg site in Sea Point be released for social housing. 4.⁠ ⁠Clarification on 353 Main Road: We demand transparent information on the Western Cape Government's process regarding the 353 Main Road project. We demand updates and clarity on the site's future use.
Premier Alan Winde escrache
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Photo Gallery

Image gallery of our movement

Build affordable housing on Green Point Bowling Green

Objecting the Rondebosch Golf Course lease

Former Albert Road residents are now evicted due to gentrification

Public meeting discussing public land

Zombie march calling for old National Party policies to be destroyed

One of the earmarked sites for affordable Housing in Woodstock

Road to Tafelberg back in court

RTC members objecting to the renewal of Rondebosch Golf Course

Comrades outside the High Court after Tafelberg hearing

Comrades with former Western Cape Premier Helen Zille discussing the future of Tafelberg site in Sea Point

Holding property power accountable

Simple and real question, what would Jesus do?

Know your rights – this banner hangs in one of our occupations in Woodstock.

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CGH & AKH Co-design celebration-17

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Recent Press Statements

City leases Bowling Greens, when will the City lease Cissie Gool House (Old Woodstock Hospital) to its current residents? 07/11/2022
Communities call for all spheres of Government to consider their daily life struggles amid the Affordable Housing Indaba with the private sector: 20/04/2022
Land and Housing Activist Collective objects to the private  auction of City-owned Land in Cape Town: 10/02/2022
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