In a significant development, approximately 360 foreign nationals who have been unlawfully occupying City of Cape Town and government-owned land since the Covid-19 pandemic, demanding relocation abroad due to fears of xenophobic attacks, are set to receive eviction notices.
These individuals, predominantly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were part of a larger group that staged protests outside the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town back in October 2019. Citing concerns for their safety, they took up residence in Greenmarket Square and the Central Methodist Church, pressing for relocation to Europe or Canada. Following a court order, they were subsequently removed and relocated to temporary sites during the initial lockdown phase:
Wingfield in Maitland, owned by public works.
Paint City in Bellville, under the city's ownership.
The Western Cape High Court has now granted permission to the national departments of home affairs and public works, along with the city, to proceed with serving eviction notices at these locations.
The city highlighted that the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) had completed repatriation and deportation processes, with the aid of the city and Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs), successfully reintegrating numerous foreigners into their respective local communities.
However, a group of approximately 160 occupants at the Wingfield site and around 200 at the Paint City site in Bellville remain in defiance, rejecting offers of support and integration into South African communities. Instead, they persist in seeking relocation outside of the country or their nations of origin.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis emphasised that these sites have become a source of significant public concern, triggering complaints ranging from traffic disruptions to increased criminal activities and waste management challenges, urging the need to restore these areas to their intended public use.
The department of home affairs has borne the expenses related to providing tented accommodation at these sites. By initiating this joint application, the authorities aim to bring an end to the current conditions, which are deemed undignified for both the occupants and the general public.
As the process unfolds, it is becoming increasingly apparent that a resolution must be reached to ensure the peaceful restoration of these sites and address the concerns raised by the public and authorities alike.
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