Processes are underway to lawfully evict homeless people living under the Lansdowne Bridge.
Although the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) owns the land on either side of the bridge, the pavement area currently occupied is the City of Cape Town property.
Ward 60 councillor, Mark Kleinschmidt, says officials have been engaging with the homeless people for several years to have them removed from the area.
“(Even during the Covid-19 period) they did not want to move to Strandfontein, they said they earn a living here, stay here and they remained. They even set alight a Law Enforcement truck in order to remain. Our social services has done interactions to help usher them into shelters like the OWL night shelter, we have had hand washing, HIV/Aids and Covid-19 interaction. They have been given options, but they are very violent. Although I know them by name, they are very volatile,” he says.
The issue was addressed at a community meeting, held at the Lansdowne Civic Centre on Wednesday 10 May.
In attendance was Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, a representative of the safety and security directorate, the Mayco member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross and subcouncil chair, Antonio van der Rheede.
“No one in South Africa may be removed from any structure. Whether that structure be a house, or a tent or even less than a tent – a plastic sheet – no one may be removed anywhere in South Africa without an eviction order that is granted by a high court. In order to even apply to such an eviction order, you need to show that you have provided that person with alternative accommodation at public expense,” says Hill-Lewis.
While the exact number of homeless people is not known at this stage, pending the results of the 2022 census, Hill-Lewis says drug and alcohol abuse are the leading factors in homelessness.
While a small percentage of people experiencing poverty do end up on the streets, other contributing factors are mental health conditions – treatment of which is under-resourced in the country, says Hill-Lewis.
Residents questioned officials on the process of stopping an invasion and what their rights were.
Hill-Lewis says the process must be foiled before the structure is erected. While he encouraged community intervention, he urged residents to take their safety into account, first and enlist the help of the local neighbourhood watches, who know the limitations of their powers and call it into the City’s call centre for action by Law Enforcement.
“Once that structure is up, then we need to go through the eviction process. It is a long process,” says Hill-Lewis.
Land invasion in progress and a structure in process on City land is a priority one call, officials say and will be attended to as soon as possible.
Recently the group voluntarily vacated but returned later the same day.
Hill-Lewis says several documented engagements have been conducted with them, with video footage also taken when persons are unable to sign.
The process is currently underway to legally evict them from the area.
- To report land invasions and emergencies, call 021 480 7700.
