Pre-dawn operation moves homeless off Cape Town’s streets

People gathered their belonging before being moved off. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks)

By Matthew Hirsch

16 Aug 2024

Evictions in central Cape Town continued, following a court ruling. The City is offering “Safe Space” shelters but some people don’t want to go there.

Evictions of people living on the streets in Cape Town’s city centre continued on the morning of Friday, 16 August 2024. The Western Cape High Court granted the City an order in June to move hundreds of people off the streets in the city centre.

This followed a court battle between the City and homeless groups living on Buitengracht Street, FW De Klerk Boulevard, Foregate Square, Helen Suzman Boulevard, Strand Street, Foreshore/N1, Virginia Avenue and Mill Street Bridge. They were represented by the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI).

A man and child were among the people living on Cape Town streets who were moved on Friday morning. It is unclear where the child went because the new Ebenezer Safe Space in Green Point does not accommodate children. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks)

The City has said it has made shelters, known as Safe Spaces, available for homeless people, and will assist with family reunifications.

When GroundUp arrived at the scene at Buitengracht Street at about 5.30am on Friday, there was already a large convoy of law enforcement vehicles. There were also disaster risk management vehicles, as well as social workers at the site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giof5_eXiA8

Some occupiers said they were originally from Eerste Rivier. They packed up their belongings to move to the City’s Safe Spaces, but others preferred to move elsewhere.

From what GroundUp witnessed, there were no violent incidents and officials were respectful to the homeless people.

One man, who was removing things from his tent, was heard saying “I’m not breaking it down. They [law enforcement] can do it.”

This was the second and probably final day of the City's evictions. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks)

Removals

At the N1 on the foreshore, officials removed about five structures. We also saw a couple with a young child. It is unclear at this stage where they were being moved to.

At Helen Suzman Boulevard, some people were still sleeping in their makeshift structures when law enforcement arrived.

Read more: Cold reality – many of us are closer to living on the street than we think

Miriam Davids, who has been living on the streets for eight years, says she wasn’t planning to go to the City’s Safe Space. Nevertheless she and her partner were moved off by law enforcement.

“The City wants us off the street, so they must meet us halfway. They want to search us [at the Safe Spaces]. We are also human beings. At the end of the day we took a wrong turn in life,” she said.

Davids said many people were reluctant to go to the City’s Safe Spaces because of the rules enforced.

Rules for ‘fair treatment for all’

Belongings are removed. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks)

City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo told GroundUp that the Safe Space sites must have rules to “ensure fair treatment for all.”

“It can’t be that the unwillingness of a few to abide by very reasonable rules means they are justified in continuing to unlawfully occupy public spaces that are there for the benefit and enjoyment of all. That said, the rules are flexible enough to allow any occupant who may require a late entry or early exit — for work or other reasons — to ask for the same.”

A man looks on from his bed after waking up during the evictions. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks)

He added that the City assisted with relocating people who requested relocation to places other than a Safe Space or shelter.

“Persons who refused assistance were simply required to leave the occupied site and abide by the terms of the order not to reoccupy the City’s land. The City’s offer of dignified transitional shelter and social services remains available at all times for those who have not yet accepted.”

Inus Gouws, who was in the area on Friday looking for work, said he lived in a makeshift shelter on the corner of Strand and Buitengracht streets, until he moved into the Ebenezer Safe Space last week.

People gathered their belonging before being moved off. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks)

Meals and security

Gouws said that he gets two meals a day at the Safe Space and 24-hour security.

Gouws lived on the streets for more than three years. “When the president announced that we’re going into full lockdown …, a few of our contracts got cut. We lost our place.”

Read more: Addressing homelessness and the housing crisis in Cape Town ‘requires a holistic approach with intense state intervention

He said that he then stayed in a guesthouse until his money ran out. “I never expected to be on the street. I did everything right like how I was taught and brought up.” Gouws added that he has a degree in IT.

“You might stay together but it’s every man for himself. You might think that guy is helping you but he won’t be helping you for free. Even though we were homeless, other people would come and rob us,” he said. DM

First published by GroundUp.

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South Africa

Removals

Rules for ‘fair treatment for all’

Meals and security