A group of people occupying a pavement outside
the old age home, Arcadia Place in Observatory, were given fines of R300 & R1000 by Law
Enforcement Officers on Wednesday. This comes after they contravened the City's
by-laws by having their camps illegally set up on the pavement.
There are 21 tents and shacks, with over 60
occupants including children, women, and elderly people
The group, known as Singabalapha (We Belong
Here), occupied the space in September 2019. The home is earmarked for
demolition so an upgraded facility can be built in its place.
The City of Cape Town says they attempted to
resolve the situation by ‘’affording the occupants an opportunity to remove
their belongings and clear the sidewalk, but to no avail.’’
Law Enforcement officers arrested a man who was
taken to Woodstock Police Station where he was given an
ultimatum that he would be charged and locked up if he did
not sign the by-law fines notice. He was eventually released when he signed the
notice. Officers also issued 21 fines in terms of the ‘Streets and Public
Places By-law’.
Meanwhile, the Cape High Court granted an
interim interdict to the Singabalapha
Informal Settlement by preventing the City of harassing the occupants and also
by not removing the squatters.
The application for a permanent interdict will
be held on 3 June 2020.
Done By: Mitchum George
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