SAPS, Law Enforcement and the City of Cape Town removed the last squatters from next to Green Point tennis courts last Thursday, February 22, under the supervision of the sheriff of the court.
The Western Cape High Court granted a final eviction order in the City of Cape Town’s application over the illegal occupation in and around the city centre in December.
Ward 54 councillor Nicola Jowell says the eviction was handled professionally by all parties concerned.
“It is not an easy undertaking. Social development was on site and were able to assist more people to the Safe Space. Our records reflect that just over half of the occupants had in the 10 days prior and on the day moved to the Safe Space or were provided with building kits to be used at a pre-approved location. The tennis court site itself was thoroughly cleaned after the eviction by the City’s cleansing department and the three gates to access the area have been locked. I would estimate that there were around 30 members of the cleansing department plus general works from the displaced peoples unit who assisted with this task. Law Enforcement have done continual visits and monitoring of the site to ensure that nobody does return there,” said Ms Jowell.
She said the City can restore the land for the purpose in which it was intended.
“There is inevitably a displacement of people who have refused all offers of dignified alternative accommodation. The social development team will continue their efforts to encourage people to come off the street and the City’s law enforcement department are monitoring the area,” she said.
She says there are plans for an eviction to take place in the public spaces of Camps Bay which has been granted by the courts.
“There are three other planned court applications for areas in the ward that are in various stages of the application. Since the onset of Covid, the City has been able to clear 10 sites that have been problematic through a combination of social development interventions and law enforcement. These efforts and interventions are ongoing,” Ms Jowell said.
While Ms Jowell is happy with the progress made through the evictions, the homeless people are not happy with these measures.
Unathi Mbiyiya, 26, has been living at the plot next to the tennis courts for just over a year and refuses to go to one of the City’s Safe Space sites.
“I don’t want to go to a shelter and I’m not sure where we are going next, but not a Safe Space, they want us to pay to stay there,” said Ms Mbiyiya.
Muriel Baard, 33, has been in and around the site for four years and also refuses to go to a Safe Space.
“I’ve stayed in a shelter before and they use the good food stuff for themselves (the staff) so I don’t want leftover foods that are not good for us. I also don’t want to go to Delft as it’s not safe there and how must we skarrel in a place like that,” Ms Baard said.
Anita Nakuba, 32, has been at the so-called tent city for nearly a year and also questioned where to go next.
“I’m Site B and I don’t want to go there or to Delft, where will I get money for food? Safe Space is not a place I want to go to, there’s so many people in one room and we don’t want that, I live with my boyfriend so we will look for a place,” she said.
According to Social Development services, 18 people were placed at City-run Safe Spaces, 13 people moved to family members and eight refused assistance.
