The City of Cape Town, in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs and the Zimbabwean Consulate, is relocating residents who had gathered in large numbers outside the Consulate in District Six, amid heavy rain this weekend.

Fears of violence ahead of 30 June protests had driven hundreds of families from their homes.

These residents are being moved to the Home Affairs Repatriation Centre in Epping, the designated facility for processing voluntary repatriations, which is well equipped to manage this volume of residents safely and humanely.

The City has urged Zimbabwean residents who wish to be repatriated NOT to report to the Zimbabwean Consulate, as repatriation requests will not be processed there.

The Epping Repatriation Centre will be the sole official site for processing before residents are transported to Beit Bridge.

City Safety and Security services are on site to maintain public order and assist with the relocation. Our Traffic and Cleansing departments are simultaneously managing access routes and waste management in the area.

The City has also expressed appreciation for the continued support of humanitarian organisations operating in the area.

Residents and members of the public are urged to exercise caution and avoid the immediate vicinity of the Consulate.

Should any issues arise that require emergency assistance, residents are advised to contact the City of Cape Town’s emergency number at 021 480 7700.

The City says it remains committed to ensuring a safe, orderly, and humane process for all affected individuals.