Article re-cap
- Residents of Ocean View, Cape Town, faced a forceful eviction from disputed land near Kommetie Road.
- The eviction involved the destruction of shacks by the Red Ants following a high court order.
- Jennifer Woodward questioned the sale and demanded answers regarding rightful ownership of the land.
Residents of Ocean View, Cape Town, faced a forceful eviction last week from disputed land near Kommetie Road, raising questions about land ownership and political motives. The event involved the destruction of shacks by the Red Ants following a high court order. Cape Town’s metro police were patrolling along Kommetie Road leading to, and in front of the entrance to Ocean View, on 21 June 2026 following the violence that erupted in the wake of the eviction.
The eviction targeted ERF 5144, previously owned by the Ocean View Community Trust after a donation from Kompanjiestuin Development Company intended for housing development. On Thursday, the sheriff of the court, accompanied by the Red Ants, destroyed several partially-built shacks and those that were unoccupied on the instruction of a high court order. Following COVID-19 restrictions, the trust sold the land to a foreign buyer. Jennifer Woodward, a backyarder whose shack was destroyed, questioned the sale and demanded answers regarding rightful ownership. “We want to know how the land was sold when it was donated to the Ocean View community for housing opportunities. We want to know who are the rightful owners of the land,” Woodward said.
Local DA councillor Simon Liel-Cook stated that the City and Red Ants removed the structures with no protest at the site. He attributed the chaos to political instigation linked to upcoming local government elections and alleged xenophobia. The land, measuring 15.4 hectares, was originally handed over to the Ocean View community by the Kompanjiestuin Development Company. He insisted the violent stone throwing and burning of tyres was not supported by a vast majority of Ocean View’s residents.
Adiel Fortune, a long-term resident of the disputed land for seven years, explained that over 50 people had built shacks there. He highlighted his mother’s 30-year wait on the government housing waiting list and claimed city officials and DA politicians were responsible for misleading residents about the land sale.
Fortune asserted he never encouraged others to move onto the land, stating they simply exercised their constitutional right. He blamed city officials and DA politicians for allowing the trust to sell the land when more than 1,000 backyarders in the township were desperately in need of housing. The incident involved stone throwing and tyre burning, according to reports.
The question of who now owns the land and what becomes of the displaced residents, including Woodward and Fortune, whose accounts give a human face to the dispute, remains unresolved.
Frequently asked questions
What led to the eviction of residents from Ocean View?
The eviction was triggered by a high court order directing the destruction of shacks on ERF 5144, previously owned by the Ocean View Community Trust. This followed a sale of the land to a foreign buyer after COVID-19 restrictions and a donation from Kompanjiestuin Development Company intended for housing development.
What role did political motives play in the events surrounding the eviction?
Local DA councillor Simon Liel-Cook attributed the chaos to political instigation linked to upcoming local government elections and alleged xenophobia. He stated that the City and Red Ants removed the structures with no protest at the site, while also noting stone throwing and tyre burning was not supported by a vast majority of Ocean View's residents.
Why were backyarders in Ocean View desperate for housing?
Over 1,000 backyarders in the township were desperately in need of housing, according to Adiel Fortune. He blamed city officials and DA politicians for misleading residents about the land sale and failing to address the long wait times on the government housing waiting list, which his mother had endured for 30 years.
What was the original intention behind the donation of the land?
The Kompanjiestuin Development Company donated the land to the Ocean View Community Trust with the intended purpose of developing housing opportunities for the community. However, this trust subsequently sold the land to a foreign buyer following COVID-19 restrictions.
What actions did Jennifer Woodward take in response to her shack being destroyed?
Jennifer Woodward questioned the sale and demanded answers regarding rightful ownership of the land. She expressed concern about how the land was sold when it was donated for housing opportunities, seeking clarification on who held legitimate ownership rights.
What evidence suggests a potential conflict between residents and city officials?
Adiel Fortune claims that city officials and DA politicians were responsible for misleading residents about the land sale. This, combined with the violent stone throwing and tyre burning reported at the site, indicates a significant disagreement and potential conflict between residents and local political figures.
Source: ewn.co.za
