City remains committed to protecting District 6 Restitution land
08 October 2021
The City of Cape Town notes the Western Cape High Court judgment ordering the return of the applicants and their tented structures to the parking lot in Sydney Street, within the District 6 restitution precinct. The City will appeal this untenable judgment, which will cause District 6 to be lost to unlawful occupation and will deny the District 6 land claim beneficiaries the restitution of their land in perpetuity.
The City is committed to doing everything possible to protect District 6 restitution land from being over-run by tented structures and attempts at unlawful occupation.
An urgent interdict against unlawful occupation attempts in District 6 was previously obtained by the City.
There can be no reasonable expectation, nor a clear right, for anyone to live unlawfully and permanently in tents in public spaces, and to reserve it for their exclusive use.
Sustainable alternatives are available, and reports show that space is available in night shelters on a daily basis.
The City has a constitutional duty to ensure our public places remain sustainable, and available for the use of all.
At the same time, the City will continue to offer alternative shelter and social assistance to help people get off the streets sustainably. In line with the City’s developmental approach of reintegrating and rehabilitating people living on the street, enforcement is always only a last resort once all offers of social assistance are refused.
No person should live on the streets as it is unsafe, and has a grave impact on health and well-being. That is why the City will continue with its daily efforts to offer a wide range of social support for people to get off the streets sustainably.
Cape Town is SA’s only metro with a social development budget aimed at people living on the street, with 1 600 shelter placements, 1 550 EPWP work placements, 575 reunifications with family, three Safe Spaces opened with 700 total capacity, and R13,5 million provided to support shelters from 2016 – 2021.
The City assures all Cape Town residents that we will never stop offering sustainable solutions to help people off the streets, while doing everything possible to stand up for the sustainable management of public spaces for all.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
