Staff Reporter|Published9 hours agoJudge ordered to vacate state residence after department issues notice

A Western Cape High Court judge has been ordered to leave a state-owned residence after losing eligibility. Public Works and InfrastructureMinister Dean Macphersonhas confirmed that a Western Cape High Court judge has been issued with a notice to vacate a state-owned residence in Cape Town after it was determined he no longer qualified for the benefit. In a media statement issued on Sunday, Macpherson said the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) received confirmation from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development that the judge’s entitlement to the property had lapsed.

As a result, the department instructed him to vacate the state home by April 15 and restore it to its original condition so it can be reallocated in line with policy. “The Department of Public Works & Infrastructure has a duty to safeguard public property and ensure that it is used strictly in line with the applicable legal and policy frameworks,” Macpherson said. “Public assets exist to serve the people of South Africa and cannot be treated as private benefits.” Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says public assets must serve the people.

He added that where public property is unlawfully occupied or used outside the applicable rules, the department will take all necessary action — including legal action — to protect state assets and ensure compliance with the law. Macpherson said the DPWI would continue to act “wherever necessary to prevent the misuse or unlawful occupation of state property,” stressing that restoring proper management across the state’s property portfolio remained a priority. The latest notice follows a broader push by Public Works to address unlawful occupation of state property.

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In early March, Macphersonauthorised legal proceedingsagainst three former members of theuMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Partywho failed to vacate residences in the Parliamentary Village in Cape Town after being removed from Parliament in August 2024. At the time, Macpherson said the action formed part of ongoing efforts to uphold the rule of law and prevent unauthorised use of public assets intended for the benefit of all South Africans. He described the occupation by the ex-MPs as a breach of the law and welcomed cooperation with law enforcement to effect their removal. The MK Party later publicly backed the minister’s plan to pursue eviction proceedings, framing it as a matter of legality rather than politics.

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