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500 signatures reached
To: Thembi Simelane, Minister of Human Settlements
Say no to evictions and tell the government to withdraw the current PIE Amendment Bill.
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The Department of Human Settlements recently opened public comments on the changes it wants to make to the Draft Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Amendment Bill, 2026 (PIE) [1].
To quote the Ministry of Human Settlements, they want to make it easier for ‘municipalities, state entities, and private property owners to respond more decisively to illegal occupations and evictions’ [2]. In other words, to evict vulnerable people, possibly into homelessness. We have laws that protect the poor, but the government is trying to replace them with laws that favour the privileged.
We demand that:
- Department of Human Settlements to withdraw the Draft Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Amendment Bill, 2026.
- Engage with civil society organisations and movements working to address the housing issues faced by people in low-income communities.
- Ensure that any changes to the PIE Act protect the vulnerable, rather than allowing their exclusion.
The current PIE Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation available to poor people in South Africa. It was introduced in the aftermath of apartheid to prevent the kind of forced removals that displaced thousands of Black communities.
The PIE Act ensures that:
- No one is evicted unfairly and without a court order.
- Courts consider the full circumstances of each case, including income, age, employment status, and the availability of alternative accommodation.
- Evictions are just and equitable, taking into account the lived realities of those affected.
It protects the vulnerable, while the Amendment Bill, in its current form, will only worsen the housing crisis South Africa is facing.
This is because the Draft Amendment Act is ambiguous in some provisions; for example, it is unclear which part of government is responsible for providing alternative accommodation to people who are evicted, or under what conditions. This ambiguity could potentially lead to people being left homeless and without any legal recourse.
Read more on concerns raised by civil society organisations here.
Why is this important?
South Africa is currently facing an acute housing crisis (3), with people unable to afford accommodation due to a number of socio-economic issues. The issues range from historical landlessness, which makes it hard for most people to access land and plant their roots, especially in urban areas, where they can easily access employment opportunities.
One of the other factors is unemployment, low wages, low social grants, etc., all these things have made affording rent a nightmare for most South Africans. People are being excluded from land and housing, so they do not occupy land out of lawlessness; rather, they simply do not have a choice.
All these issues have to be taken into account, and any amendment that weakens protections against eviction into homelessness, criminalises activism, or dilutes the state's obligations would be an alarming step backwards from the transformative vision of the Constitution. We call for an amendment process that is guided by constitutional principles, grounded in the lived realities of affected communities, and committed to strengthening, rather than eroding, existing protections. It is almost as if the government is trying to shift the burden rather than ensuring that all those living in South Africa have access to adequate, dignified housing.
This petition is run jointly by the following organisations:
Ndifuna Ukwazi
Abahlali basemjondolo
Reclaim the city
Inner City Federation
Rent Control
General Industries Workers' Union of South Africa (GIWUSA)
Abanhlali base Freedom Park
South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU)
Socio Economic Rights Institute (SERI)
Housing Assembly
Tshisimani
African Water Commons Collective (AWCC)
Bonteheuwel Dvelopment Forum
Solidarity Space
References
- Draft Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Amendment Bill, 2026. https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/253910.pdf
- Media statement by the Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, MP, on the release of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from Unlawful Occupation of Land Amendment Bill for public comments, 16 April 2026. https://www.dhs.gov.za/sites/default/files/speeches/PIE%20AMENDMENT%20BILL%20MEDIA%20STTEMENT%202026%20FINAL.pdf
- South Africa: Government is failing millions of people trapped in informal settlements and impacted by the climate crisis – new report by Amnesty International, 04 November 2025.