The homeless occupants of a field in Baxter Street, Durbanville, was given until the end of yesterday to vacate the area after living on the property for more than two years.
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This follows a Western Cape High Court ruling that granted the City an eviction order after the occupiers refused social assistance.
Over the last year, the area has been inspected by the city on more than 39 times with numerous clean-up operations conducted community organisations, churches and residents.
Speaking to IOL, CM Homeless Consultant and Homeless Solutions founder Carlos Mesquita said that the majority of the occupants were chronically homeless, adults, and independent.
According to Mesquita, putting them in temporary accommodation, such as shelters, took away the opportunity to earn a living because of the times one was expected to come in and out of a shelter.
He explained that job opportunities that were offered at shelters and safe spaces were short-term employment projects of three months while taking away their sense of community.
However, of greatest concern, for Mesquita, was the three or six-month limit to staying at these temporary shelters. Once this has expired, homeless would return to the streets without any further assistance.
“I am, however, pleased to hear that the City’s department of social development is bringing a more comprehensive safe space or a transitional safe space,” he told IOL. “But I’m hoping that they conduct research and also speak to people that are on the streets, as well as those that have left the street to understand what is meant by and what is the requirement of a homeless person when they say they don’t want to go to a shelter, they want to live in independent living space.”
The City would act in accordance with the terms of the eviction order granted by the high court.
“As provided by the order, should the respondents fail to vacate the property by the 6th (of January), the sheriff is authorised to eject them from the property by no earlier than January 10,” it said.
The City confirmed that the court order was served on the illegal occupants by the sheriff of the high court.
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