The City of Cape Town has gone to court to evict the artists who want to use the land to grow vegetables, host workshops and arts events. This after the collective alleges to trying to establish a lease.
The Development Action Group along with several land and housing non-governmental organisations and activists are calling for the release of state-owned underutilised military land to address the City’s housing crisis.
The Willow Arts Collective had been hoping to lease land from the City
Shayne Taliona gardens on this parcel of municipal land between the Hartleyvale Stadium and the Observatory municipal swimming pool. Photo: Steve Kretzmann
About 30 people live at the former South African National Circus School in Observatory.
The City says it has gone to court to evict them.
The residents have formed the Willow Arts Collective and want to lease the land from the City, but they say their proposals are ignored.
They want to grow vegetables, host workshops, a craft and farmers market, and arts events.
Using a custom-made pedal-powered trailer Shayne Taliona collects kitchen waste from a handful of coffee shops and restaurants in Observatory. He cycles back to a parcel of municipal land situated between the Hartleyvale Stadium and the Observatory municipal swimming pool.