Cape Town: The City of Cape Town welcomes Castle of Good Hope eviction application. It has welcomed the national Department of Public Works’ launching of an eviction application for the unlawful occupation around the Castle of Good Hope in the CBD.
Mayor of the town Geordin Hill-Lewis said that they welcome the news from the national Department of Public Works that they have launched an eviction application for the unlawful occupation around the Castle of Good Hope.
He declared that the city will help where they can, by offering the social support and alternative accommodation at the Safe Spaces, so that the historic site can be restored.
The Castle is one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town and is a Grade-1 National Monument. The unlawful occupation at the Castle is impacting its status as a top tourist destination and as general public safety in the vicinity.
City of Social development professionals have assisted the Department of Public Works (DPW) by documenting the personal circumstances of each of the unlawful occupants via on-site surveys.
It offers transitional shelter at City Safe Spaces and NGO-run night shelters that have been made over time and still stand as the eviction application process.
The City Safe Spaces offer social programmes to assist people off the streets sustainably, reintegrate them into society and reunite them with family. The personal development planning and employment opportunities were made available as referrals for mental health, medical and substance abuse treatment.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis stated that the city welcomes the launch of eviction application for the Castle by DPW. It has become a long outstanding matter as the unlawful occupation began during the national lockdown period.
He emphasised that it is a high time that this public place is restored for the public use, for its tourism and economic importance and also for the sake of the unlawful occupants by accepting the social assistance to get off the streets, which 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,” said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.