The City of Cape Town says the Eviction Process outside the Castle of Good Hope has been completed. Under the direction of the Sheriff of the Court, with the assistance of the SAPS and Cape Town Metro Police, the eviction of unlawful occupants at the Castle of Good Hope was completed this morning. Now, a clean-up is underway.
The eviction process complete at Castle of Good Hope
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City of Cape Town welcomes this positive milestone. He says it is positive for the whole city, positive for the heritage site and positive for those who lived in indignity at this site for several years.
“This has been a very visible site of urban decay in recent years, and its clean up today is an important moment for urban restoration in the city,” he added.
At the same time, he said, they appreciate the urgent attention the matter has received in recent months from the custodian of the Castle, the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
Orderly and well-coordinated
City Managers say the vacation of the site was orderly and well-coordinated between authorities. Many people had accepted offers of social assistance.
The Mayor says that any personal items not claimed when vacating the sites have been documented and will be stored by the City at their Ndabeni store.
Hill-Lewis says the City has been pushing for more than 2 years for the owner of the site to take responsibility for it.
He has expressed his thanks to Minister Dean Macpherson for showing leadership and getting his Department to act as the land custodian for the Castle precinct.
City social development professionals
City social development professionals assisted the national DPW by documenting the personal circumstances of each of the unlawful occupants via on-site interviews. Offers of transitional shelter at City Safe Spaces and NGO-run night shelters have been made, and remain available.
ADDITIONAL READING: More about the Castle of Good Hope
Safe Spaces offers social programmes to assist people off the streets sustainably, reintegrate them into society, and reunite them with family. Personal development planning and employment opportunities are made available, as are referrals for mental health, medical, and substance abuse treatment.
The national lockdown
The Mayor says the unlawful occupation began during the national lockdown. He says he is relieved it has come to an end.
FURTHER READING: Concern over crime at the Castle of Good Hope
Hill-Lewis says this is not only because of the Castle’s tourism and economic importance but also for the sake of the unlawful occupants.
“Accepting social assistance to get off the streets is the best choice for dignity, health, and well-being. No person has the right to reserve a public space as exclusively theirs, while indefinitely refusing all offers of shelter and social assistance,” he concluded.
THIS MEDIA RELEASE WAS WRITTEN BY THE MEDIA OFFICE OF THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN.
