Seven graduates of the UTurn Homeless Ministries Life Skills Programme say they are facing homelessness at the end of February, claiming they are being forced out of their transitional housing at Maitland Mews in Cape Town despite years of rebuilding their lives.
But the rehabilitation organisation MES has denied that any eviction is taking place, stating that the residents’ fixed-term lease agreements have simply come to an end after multiple extensionsand that the housing was always intended to be temporary.
The Tenants’ Fear
Andrew Mthetheleli Matroos, one of the seven remaining tenants, said he and the others fear they will be left with nowhere to go on 28 February 2026.
“If I am forced to leave on the 28th, I will have nowhere to go but back onto the streets,” he said.
“This will undo five years of rehabilitation, training, and hard work. We are living proof that reintegration works. Yet, the very system designed to help us is now abandoning us without a safety net. Being forced out now could lead to relapse or going backwards. All the progress we have made could be lost.”
Matroos explained that he and nine others were part of an original group placed in transitional housing in May 2023 after completing rehabilitation and skills development programmes through UTurn and partner organisations.
“All 10 of us were once homeless and struggling with addiction. We completed rehabilitation, got clean, and trained in various skills. I trained as a Salesforce Administrator. Others gained different skills.”
Over time, three of the original 10 secured permanent accommodation. Seven remain.
“We have been model tenants for three years. We have complied with the rules, stayed clean for over five years, and we are employed. We pay our rent and contribute to society,” Matroos said.
He added that he has been applying for private housing for three years but has been unable to secure a lease due to Cape Town’s high rental deposits and affordability requirements.
MES’s Response
MES disputes the characterisation of the situation as an eviction.
“There are currently seven tenants remaining from the original intake of 10 in May 2023,” MES said in a written response. “Three of the seven have secured permanent accommodation and will be moving at the end of February 2026.”
MES stressed that “no eviction process has been started,” and that the residents signed standard lease agreements as part of preparing them for the open rental market.
According to the organisation, transitional housing is typically limited to one year. The tenants moved in during May 2023. MES issued its first notice on 13 March 2025, informing residents that their leases would end on 31 May 2025more than two months’ notice.
Following concerns raised by tenants, the end date was extended to 31 December 2025, and again to 28 February 2026.
“They were informed that this is another step in their reintegration and that the accommodation is not permanent, as there is a backlog of other individuals who need to be placed,” MES said.
The Accommodation Continuum
The organisation emphasised that transitional accommodation forms part of what the homelessness sector calls an “accommodation continuum,” where beneficiaries move progressively toward full independence. If individuals are unable to secure private rentals immediately, shelters remain available as a temporary measure.
“It is noteworthy that of the same group, others did find alternative accommodation,” MES stated.
“One has to then be mindful of the volition of those claiming eviction. Those ready to enter these flats are not gaining access in their reintegration journey, effectively stunting the growth of others.”
Two Views, One Deadline
The tenants see an eviction. MES sees an extended lease finally reaching its natural end. The tenants see a system abandoning them. MES sees a backlog of others waiting for their chance.
What is not in dispute is that on 1 March, seven people who have worked for years to rebuild their lives will no longer have a place to call homeunless something changes.
Matroos’s plea is simple: “We are living proof that reintegration works. Don’t let it be undone.”
