As an eviction deadline looms for hundreds of homeless people in the Cape Town CBD, some have opted to go to the City of Cape Town's Safe Space shelter.

Yesterday was D-day for the homeless to start packing up their makeshift dwellings and clear out or face the demolition of their structures by the sheriff of the court. 

News24 reports that the city said more than 150 homeless people in the CBD decided to accept its offer to relocate to the Safe Space transitional shelter.

It added it would help with voluntary relocations to Safe Spaces next week, following which preparations would be made to evict any remaining unlawful occupants at the various sites after 12 August. 

The city said a court order had been varied by agreement to reflect the new dates.

As previously reported, the Western Cape High Court in June granted a final eviction order for the homeless to be removed from the CBD after 30 July and into one of the shelters.

The order relates to various unlawful occupation hot spots along Buitengracht, FW de Klerk Boulevard, Foregate Square, the taxi rank and Foreshore, Helen Suzman Boulevard, Strand Street, Foreshore/N1, Virginia Avenue and Mill Street Bridge.

The city said a standing interdict was included in the order to prevent further unlawful occupation of these areas.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said occupants will have access to medical care, social workers, substance abuse treatment, family reunification services and personal development programmes ‘to help them leave the streets for good’.

Full News24 report