Ashraf Hendricks, GroundUp: “Homeless people removed from Cape Town’s city centre”
The City released a statement regarding the anticipated evictions, informing that “[o]ver 160 people have relocated from the streets to dignified transitional Safe Space shelters… Around 140 took up the offer of space at the new 300-bed Ebenezer Safe Space 3, while 26 were relocated to Culemborg Safe Space 2. The City has further helped some people to return to their home communities, and also linked a family of three to provincial social workers for placement. Others have left the various CBD sites of their own volition.”
Settlements along Buitengracht Street, FW De Klerk Boulevard, Foregate Square, taxi rank and Foreshore, Helen Suzman Boulevard, Strand Street, Foreshore/N1, Virginia Avenue and Mill Street Bridge were all removed last week. It is during this following crucial period that residents must remain vigilant and report the building of any structures, as a standing interdict included in the order prevents further unlawful occupation of these areas.
Our ward councilor, Francine Higham, gave the following tips for how to report:
For rough sleepers or people in need of assistance, call the City of Cape Town’s Street People Unit on 0800 872 201.
For serious infingements of the City’s by-laws, call 107 (from a landline) or 021 480 7700 (from a mobile) to report the matter to law enforcement.
Reportable crimes include:
- open fires,
- drug use,
- public urination,
- damage to public property,
- littering and
- building an illegal structure
Please note that the only time a structure/tent may be removed by law enforcement is if it is in the process of being erected or partly built. A structure/tent that has been completed may not be removed. There is no 24-, 48- or 72-hour period in which a makeshift structure or tent can be removed. When a structure/tent is erected and occupied, which can go up within minutes, a court eviction order is then required to have the structure/tent removed.
