Dunoon erupts after demolition of structure used as shop

Protesters blocked Malibongwe Drive and Potsdam Road with burning tyres after the City’s Law Enforcement allegedly demolished a brick structure used for business purposes in the Ezihagwinie informal settlement in Dunoon on Monday, May 12.

A resident of the nearby ZweZwe informal settlement, located just a short walk from Ezihagwinie, said the protests continued into the early hours of Tuesday, May 13.

Protesters burned tyres and threw stones along the N7 and Malibongwe Drive.

He said residents of Dunoon felt they were being “treated like animals” when a police riot vehicle and Law Enforcement officers arrived to demolish the structure.

It belonged to an elderly woman who sold food and groceries from the site, he said.

“Why come here without notifying anyone? They demolished her stall — where is she supposed to trade from when the rains come? This isn’t right,” he said.

Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk told Tabletalk that while no arrests were made, officers were deployed to monitor the situation.

He confirmed that the protest caused significant traffic disruption.

“Tyres were set alight, leading to road closures between Malibongwe Drive and Potsdam Road. No injuries were reported, and no criminal cases were opened,” said Captain Van Wyk.

City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said seven firefighters from the Milnerton Fire Station responded to multiple fires.

“They arrived shortly after 4pm and extinguished several fires linked to the protest action,” he said.

Dunoon ward councillor Thando Dedezana said he believes the demolition order came from the Mayor’s office, calling the process “ill-intentioned.”

He also criticised Law Enforcement for leaving behind rubble and debris, adding that he already struggles to keep the community clean and orderly.

“They didn’t explain their reasons to the people, didn’t clean up the mess, and brought riot police — that’s what angered the community,” said Mr Dedezana.

Alberto Stein from Table View expressed frustration, saying the people of Dunoon should be dealt with “once and for all” for protesting “without reason, blocking roads, inconveniencing motorists, and creating unnecessary chaos.”

According to Wayne Dyason, the City's spokesperson for Law Enforcement, the structures in question were not habitable dwellings but unoccupied walls erected in violation of a high court order.

“No structures were demolished,” Mr Dyason said.

“The action targeted walls that had been built without the necessary approvals.”

City officials had previously identified the illegal walls and issued notices to the individuals responsible, ordering them to remove the structures. However, those directives were ignored, prompting the City to proceed with demolition under the court’s mandate.

Mr Dyason said the site is classified as a land invasion area and any form of construction requires authorisation from the legal landowner.

In addition, no building plans had been submitted to the local authority as required by the National Building Regulations (NBR) Act.

“The residents were consulted and informed about their unlawful conduct and the violation of a high court order. As a result, they were issued compliance notices,” said Mr Dyason.

Law enforcement agencies have since deployed measures to manage the protest and maintain stability in the area, and law enforcement will remain on site until the situation is under control, he said.