City of Cape Town under fire over Bromwell Street housing delays

Residents of Bromwell Street face uncertainty as the City of Cape Town navigates housing policies amid ongoing eviction disputes. The Bromwell Street eviction case has lasted 12 years, remaining unresolved despite a December 2024 Constitutional Court order requiring the City of Cape Town to provide transitional housing for affected families and establish a Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) Policy. In response to the Cape Argus on the position of the order, the City states it is seeking the necessary planning approvals for the proposed emergency housing, which has caused a delay.

The City has been granted a ConCourt extension until October. The City said the Bromwell Street occupants have agreed to this extension and are kept fully informed. The City was also ordered to pay the litigation costs, which are pending taxation.

The ConCourt ruling came after years of advocacy by Ndifuna Ukwazi and Reclaim the City, who have called for a TEA policy. Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre represented the Bromwell families, securing the landmark victory. The ConCourt declared the City’s National Housing Programme unconstitutional, set aside the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal decisions, and found the City unreasonably failed to adopt a TEA Policy and declined to consider providing TEA in the inner city.

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The City was directed to implement a TEA Policy alongside the National Emergency Housing Programme, provide transitional housing near the inner city within six months, and report on its planning. The City finally released a draft TEA Policy for public comment on February 2 with a March 2, 2026 deadline. Bromwell Street residents gather at court, advocating for their rights and a fair Temporary Emergency Accommodation Policy.

Housing activists view this as a positive moment, as the policy will determine how displaced persons are treated. The City said in its response: “The City is in the process of obtaining the planning approvals needed for the proposed emergency housing in question, and once this is achieved, we will immediately proceed with the construction of the emergency housing for the Bromwell Street occupants as ordered by the ConCourt.

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