The City said that occupants have been given a deadline of January 31 to vacate the premises, and for those in need, it offers transitional accommodation at its Safe Space shelters.
Post-deadline, the Sheriff is authorised to evict any remaining illegal occupants.
This decision follows the City’s sustained efforts to provide social care and assistance to the individuals illegally residing at the tennis courts. Services offered include access to night shelters run by NGOs, City-run Safe Spaces and programmes aimed at sustainable street life exit strategies.
These initiatives focus on social reintegration, family reunification, personal development and employment opportunities, along with referrals for mental health, medical and substance abuse treatment.
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The City is also awaiting a High Court decision on a similar eviction order for various homeless camps across the CBD, including locations such as Buitengracht Street and Helen Suzman Boulevard.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis emphasised the importance of keeping public spaces open for all, citing the CBD and Atlantic Seaboard as key economic and tourism areas, and noted the extensive efforts made to provide care to those occupying public places and the necessity of legal action as a last resort when offers of help are consistently refused.
‘Where offers of help to get off the streets have been persistently refused, we are seeking the court’s help as a last resort. No person has the right to reserve a public space as exclusively theirs while indefinitely refusing all offers of shelter and social assistance,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
The City’s plan to expand Safe Space shelters
The City plans to invest R230 million over three years to enhance its Safe Space shelters, currently offering 700 beds across CBD and Bellville facilities.
A new 300-bed Safe Space in Green Point is set to open next year, following successful planning appeals.
Additionally, the City has boosted the bed capacity at the CBD’s Haven Night Shelter by 63%, raising the total from 96 to 156 beds and enabling NGOs to add 300 temporary beds during the winter.
The City has a social development budget of R94.75 million for the 23/24 financial year dedicated to addressing homelessness. This budget includes R75 million in grant-in-aid for NGOs working with the homeless.
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The City also runs the Matrix substance abuse treatment programme, boasting an 80% success rate, which is crucial in tackling one of the primary reasons people end up on the streets.
In the past year, the City has reportedly assisted nearly 3 500 individuals with shelter placements, social service referrals, family reunifications and over 880 short-term job opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme.
The Safe Space model includes dignified shelter, meals, social worker access, personal development planning, various social services, skills training, job assistance and EPWP work placement opportunities.