High Court grants final eviction order for Baxter Street unlawful occupation

11 January 2023

The Western Cape High Court recently granted a final eviction order in the City of Cape Town’s bid to evict the unlawful occupiers at Baxter Street, Durbanville. The order includes a standing interdict against any further unlawful occupation at Baxter Street and the further city-owned public spaces identified in the order. Following service of the final order by the Sheriff of the court, ongoing offers of social assistance and dignified transitional shelter were made by the City’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department (SDECD), including on the date of the eviction. On Tuesday this week, the Sheriff of the court attended on the eviction of the remaining unlawful occupiers who refused offers of social support. Read more below:

The final eviction order follows efforts over time by the City’s SDECD officials to offer social assistance to those persons unlawfully occupying the public space at Baxter Street, including access to dignified transitional shelter at NGO-run night shelters and City-run Safe Spaces.

These facilities offer social programmes to assist people off the streets sustainably, reintegrate them into society, and reunite them with family. Personal development planning and employment opportunities are made available, as are referrals for mental health, medical, and substance abuse treatment.

On the date of the eviction, several more unlawful occupiers accepted offers of dignified transitional shelter, and the City was further able to reunite several people with their families. The unlawful occupants who were ultimately required to vacate the premises had refused all offers of social assistance over time.

Safe Spaces and night shelters remain open on an ongoing basis to help people off the streets.

Accepting sustainable solutions off the streets is the best choice for dignity, health, and well-being.

Our city’s public places serve important social, community and economic purposes, and must be open and available to all to be used within the confines of the law.

City expanding Safe Space dignified transitional shelter

The City intends expanding the availability of and access to dignified transitional shelters in Cape Town and its accompanying social programmes, to reintegrate affected persons into society.

In addition to supporting NGO-run shelters, the City will spend R142 million over the next three years to expand and operate City-run Safe Spaces beyond the CBD and Bellville.

In Durbanville, consideration is being given for a new Safe Space in the area, among these locations being at the new Public Transport Interchange Development.

The City’s Safe Space model includes:

• dignified shelter,

• comfort and ablutions,

• two meals per day,

• access to a social worker on-site,

• personal development planning,

• various social services including ID Book and social grant assistance,

• family reunification services

• access to substance and alcohol abuse treatment,

• skills training,

• employment opportunities, and

• access to Expanded Public Works Programme opportunities

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office