The Western Cape High Court has issued an eviction order for the illegal occupants who have set up camp outside the historic Castle of Good Hope.
Story Summary:
- The Western Cape High Court has ordered vagrants to vacate land near the Castle of Good Hope by Thursday, 17 October 2024.
- The City of Cape Town offers transitional shelter through its Safe Spaces initiative, providing dignified assistance to the homeless.
- This eviction is part of broader efforts to safeguard the Castle’s tourism and economic importance.
Castle of Good Hope vagrants ordered to vacate site by Thursday
The eviction, targeting homeless individuals who occupied the area during the national lockdown, mandates that the vagrants vacate by Thursday, 17 October 2024.
The occupation, which began in 2020, has become a source of concern for local authorities, as it affects the Castle’s tourism value and contributes to crime in the area.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis expressed support for the court’s ruling, stressing the importance of protecting the Castle as a tourism and economic hub.
The eviction comes after extensive efforts by the City to engage with the illegal occupants and find a resolution.
For over two years, the City has been pushing for action, and the High Court’s ruling gives the Department of Public Works (DPW) the legal backing to enforce the order if the homeless do not leave by the deadline.
What options do they have?
The City of Cape Town has offered transitional housing through its Safe Spaces programme to those affected by the eviction.
Safe Spaces provides temporary shelter, along with access to social services, medical care, and substance abuse treatment.
The programme also helps with job placement through initiatives like the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
Shelter residents have access to meals, ablution facilities, and development opportunities like skills training and assistance with obtaining ID documents or social grants.
The City has expanded the number of beds in its shelters, spending over R220 million to increase capacity over the next three years.
This includes new facilities in Green Point and planned expansions in Muizenberg.
Despite these efforts, some of the vagrants have resisted the City’s attempts to relocate them, claiming that the available shelter options are inadequate.
Nevertheless, authorities have stressed that the shelters provide a dignified alternative to living on the streets and aim to reintegrate individuals into society.
The eviction is part of broader efforts by the City to clear illegal occupations in areas like Buitengracht Street and Foreshore, where similar court orders have been issued in recent months.
The Castle of Good Hope, a key part of South Africa’s heritage, is central to Cape Town’s tourism industry, and the City is determined to preserve its integrity for both historical and economic reasons.
