/ 8 September 2009

Cope eviction case on hold

An application for the eviction of two Congress of the People (Cope) members of Parliament was put on hold on Tuesday while their legal teams sought to negotiate a settlement.

The application was due to be heard in the Cape High Court on Tuesday morning, before Judge Patricia Goliath.

However, lawyers said it was likely that a settlement would be presented in court on Wednesday instead.

The Department of Public Works is trying to evict MPs Dennis Bloem and Bishop Tolo from homes they have occupied for years in the parliamentary complex named Pelican Park.

The department says the homes have been allocated to African National Congress MPs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

It has offered Bloem and Tolo accommodation in another parliamentary village.

Cope says they are being victimised because they are members of the party. — Sapa