[imagesource:nicolajwell/facebook]

Cape Town’s city centre and the Atlantic Seaboard have seen a rise in ‘tent cities’ as the city’s homeless crises deepen, with hundreds of people now living in these encampments.

The city has now been granted permission to issue an eviction order for people living in these makeshift houses.

According to Ward 54 Councillor Nicola Jowell, a ‘political instigator’ has been responsible for holding up the eviction.

Jowell posted to Facebook, saying “This has been a long road and at times there was a potential risk of it being derailed by a specific local (not local) political agitator who rather than helping the process may have significantly hampered it. Thank goodness sanity has prevailed and the agitator is hardly listened to anymore!”

The people living in this area have been granted until end of January 2024 to move, following this, the eviction order will be enforced.

“On the 30th of January, should people still be dwelling illegally on the land, the sheriff will undertake the eviction.”

Jowell has confirmed that the city is making assistance available for those who wish to leave voluntarily. Jowell concluded by saying, “This is a legal eviction and whilst we feel for anyone having to live on the street- we must have law and order, follow all due legal processes and ensure that the rights of everyone is upheld!”

It’s a tough one, but lets hope 2024 brings better solutions to the homelessness that seems to have only increased this year.

[source:capetalk]