Eviction order granted for unlawful Castle of Good Hope occupiers

The Western Cape High Court has granted an eviction order to the National Public Works Department (DPW) for the unlawful occupation around the Castle of Good Hope in the Cape Town CBD. The unlawful occupants have until 17 October to vacate the premises.

According to the City of Cape Town, its social development professionals have assisted the Department of Public Works 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.”

Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, has welcomed the court granting an eviction order to the national DPW, as the land custodian for the Castle precinct.

castle of good hope evictions — Picture: Leon Lestrade / Independent Newspapers

According to Hill-Lewis, this site has long been a source of public concern and complaint, as well as frequent incidents of crime and general grime. The City has been pushing for more than two years for the department to take responsibility for it.

“We are grateful to the new Minister for showing leadership and getting his Department to act.”

According to the mayor, the unlawful occupation around the Castle of Good Hope began during the national lockdown in 2020. The City has since been advocating for a resolution not only because of the Castle’s tourism and economic importance but also for the sake of the unlawful occupants.

“No person has the right to reserve a public space as exclusively theirs, while indefinitely refusing all offers of shelter and social assistance”

In August, the City completed all processes related to the final eviction order obtained for various unlawful occupation sites in the Cape Town CBD. These include sites 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.

Earlier this year, the High Court further granted the City two similar eviction orders in recent months for central Cape Town, at the Green Point Tennis Courts in the vicinity of the Nelson Mandela Boulevard intersection with Hertzog Boulevard, Old Marine Drive, and Christiaan Barnard Bridge.