The City of Cape Town says the Eviction Process outside the Castle of Good Hope has been completed. The eviction was carried out 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 in the morning. A clean-up then commenced.
The eviction process is complete at the Castle of Good Hope
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City welcomes this positive milestone. He says it’s positive for the City, the heritage site itself, and those who lived in indignity at the 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 various authorities. Many people had also 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 at their Ndabeni store.
Hill-Lewis says the City has been trying 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
Hill-Lewis says City social development professionals had assisted the national DPW by documenting the personal circumstances of each of the unlawful occupants via on-site interviews. The Mayor says Offers of transitional shelter at City Safe Spaces and NGO-run night shelters were made to the illegal occupiers and remain available.
ADDITIONAL READING: More about the Castle of Good Hope
The City’s Safe Spaces offers social programmes to help people off the streets sustainably. They look at ways to reintegrate them into society and reunite them with their family. At the same time, personal development planning and employment opportunities are also made available, as well as referrals for mental health, medical and substance abuse treatment.
The national lockdown
The Mayor says the unlawful occupation began during the national lockdown. 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.
