• PIE Amendment Bill Letter Builder

  • Thank you for your interest in the PIE Amendment Bill and welcome to this letter builder! This tool is there to help you compose your own personal response to the PIE Amendment Bill. 

    Who we are:

    We represent the Housing Subcommittee of the Umbrella Civic Body for Ward 57+ in Cape Town. Our neighbourhoods stretch from Observatory to District Six, including Walmer Estate, University Estate, Woodstock, and Salt River. We feel hugely concerned by the bill, since too many of our neighbours have already suffered evictions. Occupations are a daily reality in our neighbourhoods. 

    How to use our letter builder:

    People have different opinions, sensitivities, styles and positions on the issue of evictions and occupations. This letter builder helps you find the arguments that feel right for you. The form starts with the theme of evictions, then moves to occupations. It proposes various arguments. For each argument, you can:

    • tick to choose the formulation that resonates with you, or
    • go to "Other" to type your own personal phrase, or
    • skip some arguments if they don't resonate with you. 

    Once you submit your selection, you will receive an email from "Housing Justice" with the text of your letter and some instructions on how to send your email to DHS. Follow the instructions and you're done!

    Written submissions can be sent, until 15 June, to the Department of Human Settlements. Don't delay!

  • Do you want more background information about the PIE Amendment Bill and why it is problematic?

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    Read below if you need more background:

    The publication of the PIE Amendment Bill (the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Amendment Bill) has been approved by National Cabinet on 16 April. In Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane's words, the bill "seeks to empower municipalities, state entities, and private property owners to respond more decisively to illegal occupations and evictions".

    To put it bluntly, the bill does two things:

    1. It weakens protections granted to individuals or families facing eviction, particularly in terms of access to alternative accommodation, and
    2. It takes a hard stance against occupiers and the activists and organisations who seek to support them.

    These proposed amendments pose serious concerns to people who are living in precarious circumstances and to activists and NGOs. We recommend you reading the joint statement by Ndifuna Ukwazi, Abahlali Basemjondolo, Reclaim the City, Inner City Federation, Rent Control, General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA), Abahlali Base Freedom Park, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI), where these concerns have been outlined.

    The public consultation period:

    Government has allocated 60 days for the public to submit their comments on the proposed bill. It must be sent for the attention of Lisa Masilo through postal mail, email, or hand delivery. (See DHS Media statement for details).

    References and further reading:

    • PIE Amendment Bill
    • DHS Media Statement
    • Joint statement by Ndifuna Ukwazi, Abahlali Basemjondolo, Reclaim the City, Inner City Federation, Rent Control, General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA), Abahlali Base Freedom Park, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI)

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  • And now, let's start building your letter! Start by choosing your introductory statement, then you will be taken to a section to comment about evictions, and if you wish, a section to comment about occupations. 

  • Select your preferred introduction sentence*

  • Theme 1: Housing crisis, homelessness and evictions

  • Argument 1: Select your preferred argument about the current housing crisis*
  • Argument 2: Select your preferred statement about why further increases in homelessness must be avoided.*
  • Argument 3: Choose your statement about 'the right to remain' (or skip)
  • Argument 4: Select your argument about taking into account our particular history (or skip this question).
  • Argument 5: Select your statement about Section 4(13b) and 4(14)*
  • Do you wish to proceed to the section about occupations?*

  • Theme 2: Occupations and the right to organise

  • Argument 6: Choose your statement about occupations (or skip)
  • Argument 7: Choose your statement about the right to get organised (or skip)
  • Argument 8: Choose your statement about the right to peaceful activism (or skip)

  • Concluding statement

  • Conclusion. Choose your concluding statement*

  • Thank you! This is all for the letter itself. Two last questions before you hit "Submit", please. 

  • Would you like to receive email updates from the Umbrella Civic Body for Ward57+?*
  • Should be Empty: