Evicted and Divided: The Displaced Residents of Paradise Park

In an emotional conclusion to a ten-year saga, approximately 100 individuals were forcefully evicted from Paradise Park in Hermanus, South Africa. The park had been a tranquil sanctuary for many pensioners and individuals reliant on social grants. Now, they face a reality filled with instability and uncertainty.

Paradise Park, nestled comfortably off the R43 in the scenic area of Vermont near Hermanus, had long been the place where quiet retirements were enjoyed. However, legal issues began when the camping site received notices of eviction in 2015 and 2016 due to non-compliance with municipal regulations – an issue that would require an exorbitant sum for rectification. Subsequently, the property was purchased by Magna Business Services in 2017, intent on developing the 22-hectare area.

Despite the resident's firm resistance, which led to confrontations in the Western Cape High Court and subsequent appeals, their efforts to prevent the eviction proved futile. The residents were compelled to leave following yet another legal defeat in June, which mandated their departure.

The eviction process spearheaded by the Red Ants was marked by sadness and turmoil as the prolonged resistance of the residents ended with them packing their lifetime possessions. GroundUp documented that in 2022, over 100 households were still striving to hold on to their homes. The dismantling of this tight-knit community reverberates with the emotional accounts of people like Elkerine Fourie, who has been forced to leave behind cherished belongings and Kosta Kassimatis, a paraplegic who has to fund the transport of his possessions on an already stretched social grant.

The individuals affected have narrated their plights, painting a vivid picture of the difficult choices and harsh realities they now face. Elkerine Fourie is finding refuge in an uninhabited friend’s home lacking basic utilities, while Emma Duddy and her children anticipate sharing cramped quarters in an RDP house.

In an attempt at assistance, the municipality offered emergency housing in Stanford Housing Development in 2018, albeit inadequately meeting the needs of this community, leading many to reject the proposition. Overstrand municipal manager Dean O’Neill stated that the municipality is willing to help with emergency housing if there is a request, leaving a glimmer of hope for the displaced residents.

The situation at Paradise Park brings to the forefront the complexities homeowners face when dealing with legal battles over property and the impact this has on vulnerable communities. As belongings scatter, for now, along Malmock Crescent Road, the future remains uncertain for these residents of Paradise Park, whose only wish was to spend their golden years in tranquility.