Frank Martin (councillor)

Frank Martin is a former Democratic Alliance councillor for the 19th Ward in Cape Town which includes Blue Downs, Kuilsriver, Wesbank and a small eastern section of Delft.[1]

N2 Gateway occupations
Main article: N2 Gateway Occupations

Martin rose to prominence during the December 2007 N2 Gateway occupations of BNG houses in the new Symphony area of Delft. The N2 Gateway Occupations saw large numbers of government-built houses occupied illegally by local residents of Delft in the Western Cape on 19 December 2007.

After the occupation, it emerged that Martin had encouraged local families to occupy the houses. He was arrested on 20 December on charges of issuing letters to an estimated 300 families in Delft which allegedly granted them permission to move into the houses and stated that he would accept full responsibility for the consequences.[2][3][4] Charges against Martin were later dropped.[5][6][7]

In February 2008, Judge Van Zyl of the Cape Town High Court ruled to evict residents. In his comments, he faulted Martin for instigating the occupation.[8] On 18 February 2009, a City of Cape Town disciplinary committee found Martin guilty of encouraging people to invade homes at Delft.[9] As punishment, Martin was suspended for only one month while former supporters of the councillor expressed outrage and called for him to be fired.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Councillor Details". City of Cape Town.
  2. "Housing and Evictions at the N2 Gateway Project in Delft". Abahlali baseMjondolo. 8 May 2008.
  3. "Housing Development Agency Bill & Delft evictions: Department briefing". PMG.
  4. "Hundreds lay claim to Delft houses". Cape Argus.
  5. "Frank Martin freed-for now". Archived from the original on 21 February 2009.
  6. "DA councillor's role in Delft is 'criminal'". Cape Argus. 20 February 2008.
  7. "DA's Delft councillor denies claims". Cape Argus. 28 February 2008.
  8. "High Court case Minister of Housing Western Cape vs Various Unlawful Occupiers". Legal Brief.
  9. DA councillor found guilty IOL
  10. "Martin should be fired say families evicted from houses". Argus. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
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