As a Tourist Guide I have had the unpleasant task of showing tourists the unsightly, smelly, and sad settlement of about 600 African refugees that had developed over four months around Greenmarket Square, outside the Central Methodist Church, and the historic Town House building which houses the Michaelis Art Collection. Yesterday the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement Department took action in encouraging the refugees to leave, after it had won a court case and followed the process which had been prescribed.

Initially the Central Methodist Church took care of the refugees, allowing them to sleep inside their church building, but after the church was vandalised by the refugees, they were evicted from the church, causing them to set up accommodation in make-shift tents and plastic covers alongside the church and on the terrace alongside the Town House building. Cooking and washing of clothes was done in Burg Street, bedding was stored in the trees on Greenmarket Square, and clothing was hung on ropes. There were no ablution facilities for the refugees. 

 

The City of Cape Town issued a carefully worded media statement, in which it confirms that the clean-up action at Greenmarket Square took place yesterday: 

 

‘CITY OF CAPE TOWN

1 MARCH 2020

STATEMENT BY MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY, ALDERMAN JP SMITH

City conducts by-law operation in Greenmarket Square

Following on from the court order handed down on 17 February 2020, the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement Department this morning undertook a by-law enforcement operation in the area around the Central Methodist Church in the Central Business District.

The order allowed for a seven-day verification process by the Department of Home Affairs of all refugees who have been occupying the space since October 2019.

That verification process terminated this past Friday, 28 February 2020, paving the way for the by-law enforcement operation.

The refugees were apprised of the provisions of the court order, so they have known for more than 10 days that the enforcement operation was coming.

The City, supported by the South African Police Service and the Central City Improvement District moved into the space this morning, in a bid to bring an end to what has been an untenable situation.

We deployed a large number of Law Enforcement officers to prevent an outbreak of violence.

The City of Cape Town is not insensitive to the plight of the refugees, but we can simply not allow the situation to carry on unchecked, as it has had a major impact on surrounding businesses, including the traders on Greenmarket Square.

Furthermore, we are not in a position to provide emergency shelter to the group, given the great need that exists among South Africans, not to mention the precedent that it would set.

We appeal to the refugees to return to the homes they vacated to join the initial occupation of St. George’s Mall. It is not legally or practically possible for the City to supply accommodation and no other sphere of government has agreed to supply such either.

Some of the refugees have left Greenmarket Square – enforcement agencies are monitoring locations to which persons are moving and will act on these if necessary. The court order says refugees may not settle elsewhere in CBD, so persons will be in contempt of court.

We also invite businesses and the public to return to Greenmarket Square and help us revitalise the area’. 

 

From a Tourism perspective Capetonians are relieved that the Greenmarket Square clean-up happened without any violence yesterday, and that Tourist Guides like myself can show off our City centre with pride again. 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein