2 October 2024
The old Woodstock Hospital has been occupied by Reclaim the City since 2017 as part of a campaign for affordable housing in the inner-city. Photo: Matthew Hirsch
Two housing occupations, both led by Reclaim the City, hosted open days last weekend to “showcase the affordable housing struggle” in Cape Town.
The occupations have been a focal point of campaigns for affordable housing for the city centre since 2017. They have resulted in tensions and public sparring between housing activists and the City and provincial governments.
The City of Cape Town estimates the value of the Woodstock Hospital property at about R87-million. The City has announced public participation for the release of the hospital for affordable housing. The deadline for the public to comment is 27 November.
Scores of people visited both Helen Bowden Nurses Home and the old Woodstock Hospital on Saturday. Housing activists described the event as a “unique opportunity for the public to witness and support the fight for equitable access to housing in Cape Town”. Some of the visitors GroundUp spoke to said they had heard about the occupations in the news and wanted to find out more and see how they could support them. Photo: Matthew Hirsch
Faghmeeda Ling, one of the leaders at the occupied Woodstock Hospital, renamed Cissie Gool House, takes visitors through the building. She explained that sections in the hospital are named after where people came from, such as Bromwell Street. Photo: Matthew Hirsch
Moegsiena Adams sits in her makeshift kitchen in the occupied Woodstock Hospital. She has been on the housing waiting list for more than 20 years and has been living at the occupied building since she was evicted from her home in Woodstock. Photo: Matthew Hirsch
Drawings adorn the walls of the corridors in the old Woodstock Hospital. Residents have named parts of the hospital after significant Cape Town streets such as Lang Straat and Albert Road. Photo: Steve Kretzmann
One room in a section of the old Woodstock Hospital serves as a library, filled with donated books. The adult section is on high shelves, while the children’s section, often used to help with school homework, is on the lower shelves. Photo: Steve Kretzmann
Students from the University of Cape Town who visited the open day at the old Woodstock Hospital on Saturday browse the exhibition detailing the history of the occupation alongside plans that could be implemented to turn the building into formal social housing. Photo: Steve Kretzmann
Megan Bobotyana led the tour of the Helen Bowden Nurses Home, renamed Ahmed Kathrada House by the activists. She explained how the chemical toilets are cleaned out once a week and residents collect their water from taps outside. She said waste is collected at least once a week by the City of Cape Town. Photo: Matthew Hirsch
Reclaim the City leader Elizabeth Gqoboka has occupied the old Helen Bowden Nurses Home since 2017. Photo: Matthew Hirsch
Waafiq Brown helps run a tuckshop at the Cissie Gool House occupation. He says he has been living at the old hospital with his two children and his mother for the last six and a half years. Photo: Matthew Hirsch
Since there is no running water inside the old Helen Bowden Nurses Home, residents make use of these outside taps to collect water. Photo: Matthew Hirsch
A woman hangs her washing at the Cissie Gool House occupation. There are a number of small businesses including a laundromat. Photo: Matthew Hirsch
Children at Cissie Gool House occupation make use of arcade games on Saturday afternoon. There are a number of organised activities aimed at keeping children busy. Photo: Matthew Hirsch