Members of the Khayelitsha Business Forum (KBF) have lambasted the City, accusing it of evicting businesspeople operating at the Lookout Hill Tourism Centre in Ilitha Park, Khayelitsha without a issuing notice.
They said most of them had closed their businesses because they had nowhere else to go. More than 20 business owners vacated the centre in early March.
KBF accuses City of unfair treatment
KBF deputy secretary Patrick Lugogwana said the situation had negatively affected many of them, as they are breadwinners for their families.
“Some of the tour guide operators who were working at the centre were barred from entering by security personnel. We viewed that as illegal and as a way of excluding local business owners from participating in our local economy,” said Lugogwana.
He described Lookout Hill as a tourism centre where all the businesses operating there were tourism-oriented. He labelled the City’s response as inhumane.
“The City failed to show ubuntu to the people who were working at Lookout Hill. Some of them were operating there for more than five years. It evicted them without providing an alternative option. They are unable to service or reach their clients,” he said.
Business owners struggle after closure
One of the businesspeople who was allegedly illegally evicted from the centre, Raymond Vicani, echoed Lugogwana’s sentiments, accusing the City of evicting them without notice.
Vicani, the owner of Raymond Landscape and Garden Service, said he is currently working from home because he no longer has office space.
“It is difficult for me now because I do not have access to machines for photocopying and printing. It is also difficult to meet with our clients,” said Vicani, adding that he views the situation as part of the City’s plan to shut down Black-owned businesses.
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City denies evicting local businesses
In a statement released by the City’s Economic Growth Directorate, the City refuted the claims, saying no eviction had taken place at Lookout Hill.
“The City has neither issued eviction notices nor evicted any businesses from Lookout Hill,” the statement read.
Former lessee ended lease agreement
“The former lessee had been accommodating several local small businesses within the leased premises at Lookout Hill. However, the former lessee elected to terminate the lease agreement and has since vacated the site. Despite the former lessee’s efforts to secure affordable and suitable alternative accommodation for the affected businesses, they were unsuccessful.”
The statement added that the previous lessee had rented the City-owned premises at Lookout Hill for several years. In 2025, the lessee gave notice to the City and formally exited the premises this year.
“During this time, existing businesses accommodated by the previous lessee were also consulted and informed that the accommodation arrangement would come to an end. They left the premises under the instruction of the previous lessee. Some historical traders currently remain at the facility,” the statement said.
According to the City, repair and maintenance work is currently underway at Lookout Hill, and it anticipates that the work will be completed within the current financial year ending on 30 June.
