Sheriff evicts Castle of Good Hope squatters
A group of people who had set up makeshift homes around the Castle of Good Hope have been evicted by authorities in Cape Town.
A TimesLIVE report notes Sheriff of the Court Ncedile Ntsibantu, accompanied by a strong police contingent and city law enforcement officers, descended on the precinct on Friday morning.
The shanty town dwellers watched earth moving machinery demolish about 100 structures.
The eviction followed an order handed down by the Western Cape High Court, which had instructed the unlawful occupants to vacate the precinct by 17 October.
Ntsibantu described the eviction as ‘smooth’, but said only a handful of people moved ‘willingly’.
Many of the evicted accepted city transportation to safe spaces but others refused, choosing to remain on the streets.
‘Occupants were instructed to vacate by 17 October. Following their non-compliance, a final order with a warrant was obtained on 20 October,’ Ntsibantu said.
The eviction is part of an ongoing clean-up of several sites invaded by illegal occupants, including Buitengracht Street, FW De Klerk Boulevard, the Foregate Square taxi rank and the Foreshore, Helen Suzman Boulevard, Strand Street, the Foreshore/N1, Virginia Avenue and the Mill Street bridge. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis welcomed the eviction, describing it as ‘positive milestone’.
Castle of Good Hope CEO Calvyn Gilfellan said there were plans to install fencing around the premises.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
