The Western Cape High Court has granted a final eviction order in the City of Cape Town’s application regarding the unlawful occupation at the tennis courts in Green Point, dubbed ‘Tent City’.

The City says the order includes a standing interdict against any further unlawful occupation at the courts, and further city-owned public spaces identified in the order.

Respondents have until 31 January to vacate the property. The order permits the Sheriff of the court to evict any remaining unlawful occupants if needed after 31 January.

The City says the final eviction order follows significant efforts over time to offer social assistance and care interventions, including access to dignified transitional shelter at NGO-run night shelters and City-run Safe Spaces.

An imminent ruling is also expected soon on a final eviction order for various homeless encampment sites in the CBD, including 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 in the city.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City stands ready to offer support to those who choose to accept help:

‘The CBD and Atlantic seaboard is Cape Town’s main economic and tourism hub, and it is vital that public places must be open and available for all.

‘The City has gone to great lengths to extend every offer of care to individuals unlawfully occupying public places in these areas. Accepting social assistance to get off the streets is the best choice for dignity, health, and well-being.

‘Where offers of help to get off the streets have been persistently refused, we are seeking the court’s help as a 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.’

Ward Councillor Nicola Jowell has welcomed the final eviction order, saying arrangements are underway to assist those people that have already indicated they will move voluntarily.

She adds social development will continue to offer alternative options until the eviction takes place.

‘This is a legal eviction and whilst we feel for anyone having to live on the street- we must have law and order, follow all due legal processes and ensure that the rights of everyone is upheld.’

The City will spend R230 million over three years to expand and operate its Safe Space transitional shelters beyond the current 700 beds across CBD and Bellville facilities.

Currently, the Metro operates two Safe Spaces at Culemborg in the east CBD which offers 480 shelter beds across the facilities. It’s also set to open a new 300-bed Safe Space in Green Point next year, with this facility recently passing the planning appeals phase.

This year, the City also supported a 63% bed boost to the CBD’s Haven Night Shelter, expanding this facility from 96 to 156 beds via a R500 000 cost contribution.

During the winter, the City further enabled several NGOs to add 300 more temporary bed spaces to cope with additional shelter demand, including the deployment of 184 EPWP workers to assist NPOs.

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