Cape Town – Today is the deadline for the city’s homeless in the downtown area to dismantle their tent cities and vacate, or they risk having their structures demolished and facing legal action from the sheriff.
A court order from the Western Cape High Court has authorized the City to remove hundreds of unauthorized individuals from public spaces in the CBD starting August 1. The affected areas include Buitengracht Street, FW de Klerk Boulevard, Foregate Square, the taxi rank and Foreshore, Helen Suzman Boulevard, Strand Street, Foreshore/N1, Virginia Avenue, and Mill Street Bridge.
The initial eviction notice was issued in February 2023, with the most recent ruling coming after a lengthy legal dispute with the Social Economic Rights Institute NGO.
According to the City’s statement from yesterday, preparations for the eviction are nearing completion. As mandated by the court, the eviction can only proceed after July 30. The individuals impacted have been offered accommodation at the new Ebenezer Safe Space, along with options at other facilities.
“The City stated, ‘No individual has the right to claim a public space as their own while continuously rejecting offers of shelter and social support. We will seek court intervention if necessary.’”
With support from the SAPS, the City is empowered to remove, demolish, and evict structures if residents do not comply or refuse to leave.
Carlos Mesquita, an activist and founder of Outsider, a community upliftment organization for the homeless, expressed hope that the court will oversee the evictions and ensure that those who accept the City’s shelter offers are accommodated. The exact number of homeless individuals in Cape Town or the CBD remains unknown.
“I am confident that the court will fulfill its commitment to oversee this process and ensure the City adheres to the required changes at the Safe Space for accommodating these individuals, as the court order was based on the City’s assurances regarding these adjustments,” Mesquita said.
A new Ebenezer Safe Space has been made available to all those affected, although other options are also provided.
This new 300-bed shelter, officially inaugurated earlier this week by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, is located within a section of the Ebenezer Road municipal depot in Green Point. It marks the fifth Safe Space opened by the City, increasing the total number of beds in these facilities to 1,070.
“Cape Town is investing an unprecedented R220 million to expand and operate Safe Space shelters throughout the city,” said Hill-Lewis.
Safe Spaces offer social programs and dignified transitional housing to assist people in permanently leaving the streets, reintegrating into society, and reconnecting with their families.
“We are prioritizing compassionate, social developmental approaches in our strategy to help more people transition off the streets and ensure that public spaces remain accessible to everyone,” Hill-Lewis added.
In the meantime, Ian McMahon, councillor for Ward 115 in Cape Town, noted the severe impact of winter on the homeless.
“With the winter program aimed at helping NGOs expand bed space during the cold, wet months, we sincerely hope those living on the streets will accept our offer of dignified transitional shelter,” McMahon stated.