‘Deplorable’: City of Cape Town ordered to rebuild Hangberg man’s demolished house

Law enforcement officers in Hangberg. (Roderick Damons)

NEWS | 15 Jul | Murray Williams

The Western Cape High Court has ordered the City of Cape Town to rebuild the demolished house of a Hangberg resident, describing its “conduct” as “deplorable, grotesque and without care for human dignity”.

Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe on Wednesday ordered the City to immediately rebuild the man’s house – to the same size and dimensions.

The City of Cape Town has 48 hours to complete the construction and must prove to the court it has done so.

Ginola Phillips’ half-built structure was demolished by the City twice over the past month.

The demolition led to a number of running battles between police and residents of Hangberg in Hout Bay in June.

WATCH | Rubber bullets, rocks fly as police tear down structures in Hout Bay

The City has previously contended it was allowed to demolish illegal unoccupied structures being built on city land.