Bo Kaap Koestas at the centre of a legal battle over usage of waqf land

Over the past few months, a battle has been brewing over land in Bo Kaap known as the Koestas – where a group of community members created a sustainable food garden last year. The garden is situated in the Pepper Street cul-de-sac on property owned by the Darul Falah Study Group, said to be waqf land. The Sustainable Bo-Kaap Association (SUBOKA) has been accused of occupying the land without permission from the owners. Last month, Darul Falaah locked the gates to the property and Suboka has been given notice to vacate. Suboka is now seeking an urgent court interdict against several parties which will be heard on Friday. Aneeqa Du Plessis visited Bo Kaap to get the community’s sentiments on this contentious issue…

We invited both Darul Falaah and Sustainable Bokaap Association (Suboka) on air to engage on this issue. Darul Falaah declined, citing that there are legal proceedings underway but Soraya Booley, the founder of Sustainable Bokaap agreed to chat to us this morning

Bo Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association was asked to mediate on the issue. Osman Shabodien, the chairperson of BKCRA, joins us now