Cape Town – Bo-Kaap residents have not given up their quest to preserve the area's heritage and will continue with demonstrations in coming weeks, said Bo-Kaap Collective member Safwaan Laubscher.
At the same time an online petition to block gentrification - Save our Bo Kaap, Save our African Heritage, Stop all Developments - sent to Mayor Dan Plato is gaining momentum with more than 21 000 signatures by last night.
Laubscher said they had not heard from property developer Blok since last week's protests, and neither had ward councillor Brandon Golding consulted with the residents.
Golding did not respond to requests for comment from the Cape Times.
Last week, four people were arrested in Bo-Kaap following a demonstration against gentrification in the area that turned violent when police used stun grenades to disperse the crowds.
Laubscher said they were still busy consulting lawyers to deal with cases of police brutality.
The demonstration was in relation to two cranes attempting to enter Lion Street to continue construction of Blok’s apartments.
The property developer purchased the site in March last year and the City approved the development of 56 residential units.
In July Blok asked the court to interdict, among others, Bo-Kaap Youth Movement and “all other persons trespassing” from entering erf 2970, but later withdrew this. They filed for another interdict earlier this month.
Laubscher said they were consulting their lawyer to prepare for the court case expected in the Western Cape High Court on December 6.