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The group of residents dubbed the Willow Arts Collective (Wac), who are occupying the former South African National Circus site in Observatory, will be appealing a court ruling for temporary accommodation at a city-run shelter.
In May this year, Magistrate Reaz Khan granted an eviction order against the group and ordered that they be provided emergency accommodation for 18 months at the Culemborg Safe Space 2, under FW de Klerk Boulevard on the Foreshore. Wac had until Saturday 15 July to appeal the ruling.
They had to vacate the site, which is owned by the City, by yesterday (31 July) if they rejected the offer.
ALSO READ: “National circus court ruling debate: Willow Art Collection undecided”
In 2019, the City applied for the eviction of the site and stated that it “has been identified as a sports precinct”.
Shayne Taliona, chair of Wac, says they have decided to appeal because “we are not happy with Khan’s judgment. If he was concerned about us being thrown at Bosasa and kampies and he could find the wrong things to endorse. The decision to place us at Culemborg; there is something wrong with that judgment”.
Taliona says they visited the safe space recently and they were shocked by the conditions. “It’s an insult for people like me. How can they call that place a safe space when it’s under the bridge? It was my first time going there.”
The City says it intends to oppose the appeal. “There is a purported notice of appeal that has been filed by one of the respondents purporting to act for them all. The City intends to oppose the appeal,but given the notice of appeal that has been filed, the execution of the eviction will not proceed until the appeal has first been determined.”
