Life Under Occupation: Cissie Goole House by Jodi Windvogel

This project explores the vibrant and resourceful daily lives of residents within the Cissie Gool House, a former Woodstock Hospital that has been transformed into a sanctuary for more than 2,000 people under the guidance of the Reclaim the City (RTC) organisation. In March 2017, housing activists from RTC occupied the abandoned hospital, as well as Helen Bowden Nurses Home, with the aim of transforming the derelict sites into thriving living spaces. Their occupation was a form of protest against gentrification and the lack of affordable housing in Cape Town, and Cissie Gool House became the heart of this resistance, evolving into a dynamic community with shops, a library, a cinema and communal areas that offer refuge to those facing displacement or homelessness. This project highlights the resilience, solidarity and ingenuity of this unique community, while addressing Cape Town’s severe housing crisis and the urgent need for affordable housing.