The Western Cape High Court has taken time to review the City of Cape Town’s application to evict unhoused people in the central business district, as those experiencing homelessness picket for their rights.

Earlier this year, the City of Cape Town brought an application to the High Court to evict unhoused people living along city streets – in a supposed bid to keep public spaces “open and available to all”, says Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

ALSO READ: Homeless crisis: City’s court application delayed after NGO opposes evictions

While the matter was meant to be heard in April, an intention to oppose the application was filed and the matter was delayed until earlier this week.

The Nehemiah Call Initiative’s Dean Ramjoomia says the “last-minute” notice was the result of little representation for those facing homelessness.

“Unfortunately at the time, [another civil organisation’s] load was a little bit too much and so [The Socio-Economic Right’s Institute] took up the initiative to commit themselves in representing our people’s case.” – Dean Ramjoomia, Homeless Action Coalition

The City’s two “Safe Spaces” and other shelters are among the services it offers, which claim to provide the unhoused with social assistance, including beds, food, skills training and assistance in finding a job.

According to Hill-Lewis, the City plans to expand services and intervention efforts, but it has otherwise exhausted its existing efforts in providing assistance.

He claims that offers of help have “persistently” been refused, and appealing to the High Court to grant an eviction order was the “last resort”.

 

“No person has the right to reserve a public space as exclusively theirs, while indefinitely refusing all offers of shelter and social assistance.” – Geordin Hill-Lewis, Cape Town mayor

Ramjoomia, however, says the City is telling half-truths about its interventions and its treatment of unhoused people.

According to Ramjoomia, the City’s “Safe Spaces” are overcrowded, and the conditions therein are not as comfortable as they seem.

 

“I refer to the [Safe Spaces] as dog pound shelters because of the physical state in which these places are in. It becomes very clear and evident that the City are not interested in the welfare, the rehabilitation and reintegration of [unhoused] people. The City’s preoccupation is just remove people off the street towards its own end.” – Dean Ramjoomia, Homeless Action Coalition

Ramjoomia says if the eviction order is granted, an interdict may be granted with it, and that will see the destruction of many structures in the CBD and likely beyond. He further noted that more than 250 people may be affected by the removal of their structures in only few areas in the CBD.

These areas – in which the City intends to issue eviction notices – include Buitengracht Street, FW De Klerk Boulevard, Foregate Square, Foreshore, Helen Suzman Boulevard, Strand Street, Virginia Avenue and Mill Street Bridge.

Judgement on the matter has been reserved.

*This article was updated to reflect more accurate information