The Western Cape High Court granted the City of Cape Town’s application for eviction notices to be served at various unlawful occupations in the CBD. Notices will be served before the next court hearing in April.
City Social Development officials have made
repeated offers of social assistance to those unlawfully occupying public
spaces in the city, including offers of dignified shelter at NGO-run night
shelters and City-run Safe Spaces.
The department expanded Care
Interventions with R77 million. This
is part of a city-wide approach of assessing the social circumstances of those
living on the streets. While some have
accepted these offers of support, the unlawful occupants receiving notices are
those who have consistently refused all offers of social assistance.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said no person has the right to
reserve a public space as exclusively theirs, while indefinitely refusing all
offers of shelter and social assistance.
“Our city’s public places serve important social and
community purposes, and must be open and available for all. Illegal occupations
of City open spaces impact the safety of traffic and pedestrians, as well as
local businesses critical to growing the economy. Accepting social assistance
to get off the streets is the best choice for dignity, health, and well-being.”
Housing activist organisation, Ndifuna Ukwazi, says the City of Cape Town did not think the eviction plan, through.
‘’How is it possible to interdict someone from occupying
public space in future, as City of Cape Town intends to do with people expensing
homelessness? The eviction plan is: Shelters or nothing, but shelters are not a
solution to homelessness so should people try being invisible instead?’’
Not only does the @CityofCT want to evict people who live on the street, they also want to deprive them of their possessions {"any possessions"} for a whole calendar month, for 'safe custody' ?!?! #eviction #homelessness pic.twitter.com/0WkuPL6u3d
Done By: Esona Mfazwe
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