Cape Town – Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala has led a campaign in Cape Town to recover state-owned properties that have been illegally occupied.
The initiative forms part of the nationwide Operation Bring Back (OBB) campaign, spearheaded by the Department of Public Works (DPW). The programme is aimed at reclaiming land and properties stolen from the state before and shortly after South Africa’s democratic transition in 1994.
On 29 August, Zikalala and department officials carried out operations in Goodwood and Khayelitsha, where he handed over 100 eviction notices to individuals occupying state property illegally, EWN reported.
Occupants were given until midnight on Sunday to vacate the premises.
“We have found that there is a trend where people see unoccupied buildings and take them over illegally. Some even go as far as renting them out as if they own them,” Zikalala said.
He emphasised that the department will prioritise properties listed in its immovable asset register.
“We are going to roll out this campaign across the country to ensure that government buildings are reclaimed,” Zikalala added.
🚨Happening Today in Cape Town🚨
Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister, Sihle Zikalala, is leading Operation Bring Back (OBB) a nationwide campaign to reclaim stolen, hijacked, and illegally occupied state-owned properties.” Today’s focus: Goodwood and Khayelitsha
One… pic.twitter.com/6CAI7QGIgg— Department Of Public Works and Infrastructure (@DepartmentPWI) August 29, 2025
However, IOL reported that Ruth Stein, an attorney from the Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre representing the respondents, will argue that the application — launched only after a tender process closed—abuses the court’s process. She described it as “self-created urgency” due to the tender’s issuance and said it should be dismissed.
“They allowed this building to decay for over a decade, tacitly permitting occupation.
“Now, after a tender for private office space has closed, they demand that the court issue an urgent eviction, citing safety concerns, with no regard to the alternative accommodation of the families living there.
“This is not about safety; it is about clearing the property for a commercial award,” said Stein.
One of the properties forming part of the Operation Bring Back (OBB) led by DM Zikalala today is located in Goodwood. It was originally owned by an elderly woman who, in her will, directed that it be transferred to the South African Police Service (SAPS) to support the fight… pic.twitter.com/8yQj5KYTZF
— Department Of Public Works and Infrastructure (@DepartmentPWI) August 29, 2025
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Compiled by Anda Tolibadi
