The Gate 7 informal settlement in Kensington is at the centre of an alleged land invasion, claims the City of Cape Town, just days after residents won a Western Cape High Court order to occupy the land.
The land between Voortrekker Road and the Wingfield airbase has been in the headlines since late October, when the City of Cape Town demolished 30 structures between 23 and 25 October 2026.
According to the City, it was actioning a court order obtained after an application by the Ndabeni Communal Property Trust - the owners of the land.
However, the Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre confirmed that the High Court granted relief to the affected residents after an urgent application lodged on last week Thursday, 29 October 2026 allowing residents to rebuild their homes on the disputed property.
But even as the residents rebuilt, Ndabeni Communal Property Trust appealed to the City of Cape Town to intervene and protect the property from further unlawful occupation. The City added that the Trust also approached SAPS to formally lay trespassing charges.
City says further structures were unlawful
According to a statement shared by JP Smith, the property has been subjected to ongoing unlawful occupation, with individuals allegedly putting up structures incrementally despite an existing court interdict.
The City said the latest incident unfolded yesterday after six community members, who had obtained a court order permitting them to build on the land, arrived at the site.
But 50 other people, without court authorisation, joined in and began erecting additional structures, which prompted intervention by the City's enforcement teams and SAPS Public Order Policing.
He said: “The City intervened by deploying Traffic Services, Metro Police TRU and NSO units, the Drone Unit, along with Law Enforcement, to protect the lawful land rights of the Ndabeni Land Trust and prevent further unlawful occupation and potential public violence.
“These land invasions have severe consequences for the City; they lead to increased vandalism, theft of infrastructure, increased dumping, increased crime and violent service delivery-related protests; therefore the City couldn't stand idly by while opportunists attempt to hijack open land parcels unlawfully.
City deploys enforcement teams to Gate 7
“City services, along with SAPS, will continue to monitor the site for further attempts.”
Pushback arrived almost immediately as Ndifuna Ukwazi attorney Caitlin Turok, who is the legal representative of the residents, and Patriotic Alliance Ward 56 councillor Cheslyn Daniels slammed the City and the landowner.
“The City of Cape Town has ignored the rule of law and the judge's court order”.
Meanwhile, Daniels, said the Ndabeni Property Trust must be investigated on how they plan on using the land, as he believes they are not using the land for the benefit of the people.
Daniels said: ”The Ndabeni Property Trust has failed the people of Ward 56, and they need to be investigated, as they are not using the land for what's intended.”
Daniels believes that the Ndabeni Property Trust is taking a laissez-faire approach regarding the matter.