The City of Cape Town has publicly professed its support for the launching of an eviction application by the national Department of Public Works. The eviction is intended to be ordered against the unlawful occupants who surround the Castle of Good Hope in the CBD.
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Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis held that the unlawful occupation began during the 2020 national lockdown and refers to the eviction application as a ‘long outstanding matter.’ He has claimed that the public area surrounding the castle needs to be restored for public use to the benefit of the tourism sector and the economy at large. The restoration is however also important for the unlawful occupants, as social assistance will ultimately aid in their health, dignity and well-being. He ends with stating that ‘no person has the right to reserve a public space as exclusively theirs while indefinitely refusing all offers of shelter and social assistance.’
The Castle is one of the city’s oldest buildings. The current number of unlawful occupants in its surrounds has become detrimental to its standing as a tourist attraction. It also casts a shadow of unsafety on the location as a whole.
Social development professionals have assisted the Department of Public Works through their offerings of City Safe Spaces and NGO-run night shelters as alternative residence for these occupants. Furthermore, City Safe Space provides social programmes to assist these individuals with reintegration into society which includes personal development and employment opportunities.
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Picture: Castle of Good Hope