Move to shift Melgisedek occupants into tent camps sparks court battle

The City of Tshwane’s plan to relocate hundreds of illegal occupants from the city‑owned Melgisedek building to temporary tented sites in Gezina and Capital Park has prompted community resistance and legal challenges. Residents, civic groups and political parties have objected to the moves, and court action has interrupted earlier relocation attempts.

Who is being moved and where

The Melgisedek building is an abandoned, city‑owned property in Pretoria that became the site of illegal occupation, severe overcrowding and partial demolition. The city has sought to move occupants to tented sites in Gezina and on the Capital Park community centre grounds.

Earlier relocation blocked by court

An initial relocation moved occupants to vacant land at the corner of Nico Smith Street and Johan Heyns Drive, but that transfer was halted after the Democratic Alliance and AfriForum sought relief in the high court.

Community alarm and legal steps

Capital Park Residents and Ratepayers Association (Caprra) said it was not consulted about the use of the community centre grounds. Caprra member Mercia Pretorius described the arrival of tents as sudden:

“We went to bed one night and saw the tents erected in the field the next day.”

Caprra said urgent legal steps are being pursued and that a security and stakeholder meeting has been planned.

Political responses and safety concerns

Freedom Front Plus mayoral candidate Willie Spies said his party would assist the communities of Gezina and Capital Park to prevent their neighbourhoods from becoming “crime‑infested areas” following the relocation.

DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink welcomed the SCA judgment that cleared the way for eviction but warned the tented site was unsuitable. He said the tents risked becoming another informal settlement “without basic water and sanitation amenities.”

“We are not opposed to the eviction, but the tented camp in Gezina is not suitable accommodation. The case we made to the court was that the tented camp would simply become another informal settlement without basic water and sanitation amenities,”

AfriForum spokesperson Ll ewellynn Hemmens said AfriForum objected to the city disregarding the rights and safety of residents.

Court developments

The city announced plans to relocate occupants to a temporary tent town in Capital Park after the Supreme Court of Appeal rejected a second application by Lawyers for Human Rights to stop the relocation.

What happens next

Community representatives, civic groups and police intervened after tents were delivered to the community centre on Monday. Caprra has said it has not approved the use of the site and is pursuing legal remedies; a security and stakeholder meeting has been planned.

Key facts:

• Melgisedek is a city‑owned, abandoned building that became illegally occupied.
• The city has proposed moving occupants to tented sites in Gezina and on the Capital Park community centre grounds.
• An earlier move to land at Nico Smith Street and Johan Heyns Drive was stopped after DA and AfriForum sought high court relief.
• The SCA rejected Lawyers for Human Rights’ second application to stop the relocation.