Zille depicted as Hitler at Hangberg court protest

Dozens of Hangberg residents who face eviction protested outside the high court in Cape Town yesterday.

The City of Cape Town launched legal proceedings against the residents who illegally set up home on a firebreak on Hangberg in Hout Bay.

Last month violence erupted in area when the city demolished several of the illegal structures. Residents pelted police with rocks and petrol bombs and officers shot at the angry mob with rubber bullets. Four people lost eyes during the clash.

Initially, South African National Parks joined the city as an applicant in the eviction application as it controls parts of the occupied land. But SANParks withdrew from the case on October 2 because it wanted to negotiate with the unlawful occupiers.

"From SANParks' point of view, there is . no need for it to pursue any legal action against these persons who unlawfully occupy a piece of land when there are genuine and sincere attempts to amicably resolve the problem," said SANParks CEO David Mabunda in an affidavit.

But SANParks was served with a notice of joinder by the City of Cape Town - which means that the city is set to add SANParks to the list of respondents in the case.

Mabunda said: "I had expected the [City of Cape Town] as an organ responsible for housing in these affected areas to join and participate in the process of finding an amicable solution to the problem."

Hangberg resident Roscoe Jacobs caused a stir outside court with a poster depicting Western Cape Premier Helen Zille as Hitler.

"Like Hitler she convinced us to vote for her . But she doesn't care about us . She wants to move us to Blikkiesdorp. That place is like a concentration camp," said Jacobs.

City spokesman Kylie Hatton was unavailable for comment.

The case has been postponed to November 29.