Helderberg

A TAROT card reader in Somerset West who stood up to one of Cape Town's oldest property developers that demanded she remove a caravan from her front yard, bowed to pressure earlier this month after she and her family were threatened with eviction.

DistrictMail reported in May that Annatjie Delport, also known as Pandora to her clients, had been ordered by Garden Cities to remove a small caravan she uses as an office from her front yard in Victoria Park.

The company administers strict rules in its developments, which have included suburbs such as Pinelands, Edgemead and Sunningdale. These rules - which cover everything from architectural guidelines to advertising signage - are incorporated in sales contracts and owners are expected to inform tenants thereof should the property be let, as is the case with Mrs Delport.

Surprised at the letters
She told DistrictMail she had been surprised at the letters from Garden Cities and also instructions from her landlord, as her caravan had been standing where it was since they moved in, 18 months prior. In addition, there were a number of houses in the area that were infringing the same rules, but nothing appeared to be done about them, she said. This led her to the conclusion the threats had been orchestrated by people who did not approve of her particular type of trade.

Garden Cities representative John Courie denied this was the case. The company gave her an extension on the deadline to allow her to move the caravan.

Mrs Delport said this week she had made space for the caravan in the backyard.

"They gave me a choice - either I move the caravan or we move out."

The family opted for the former. "But this has caused a lot of damage to my business," she says.

"The caravan was my advertisement and my customers could easily find me. Sometimes even my husband even drives past by accident because he's looking for the familiar landmark."

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