CAPE TOWN – Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has confirmed that the City of Cape Town has officially initiated an eviction process to remove approximately 160 foreign nationals still occupying two temporary accommodation sites — Wingfield and Paint City — in the metro.
The foreign nationals were originally relocated to these sites during the COVID-19 pandemic, following their eviction from Greenmarket Square and the Central Methodist Church in Cape Town’s central business district (CBD) in 2020.
Now, over three years later, the City says it can no longer justify continuing to bear the ongoing costs of accommodation and services at these sites — especially as most of the original occupants have since voluntarily vacated.
Hill-Lewis: Demands for Relocation Abroad Are Unrealistic
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis emphasized that the City has tried to resolve the matter peacefully and within the law, but the continued refusal by a small group of individuals to vacate the sites has left no alternative but legal eviction.
Hill-Lewis also addressed the group’s demand to be relocated to Europe or Canada, calling it “unlawful and unfeasible”.
“The demands by the remaining occupants for relocation to Europe or Canada can never lawfully be met,” Hill-Lewis stated. “Nor can the state continue to bear the expenses related to the sites.”
According to the City, the initial purpose of the relocation was humanitarian — providing safe shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic for those displaced from public spaces. However, the intention was never to create a permanent solution.
While some headlines may suggest that removals are imminent, Hill-Lewis clarified that the current step is merely the beginning of a legal court process — not a physical eviction just yet.
“It’s important to note, this is the start of the eviction process,” Hill-Lewis said. “It essentially kicks off the court process. So, this does not mean the eviction will happen on Monday — but we’ve kicked off formally the court hearing process.”
The City has submitted court papers to formally begin eviction proceedings, which will include arguments from both sides, a review of evidence, and judicial oversight.
The City is expected to request the Western Cape High Court to authorise the evictions in line with constitutional and legal requirements.
The foreign nationals, primarily asylum seekers and refugees, made international headlines in 2019 and 2020, when they began occupying Greenmarket Square and then the Central Methodist Church in protest. Their demands included immediate relocation to safer countries, citing threats of xenophobic violence in South Africa.
After months of standoffs, police removed them from the premises, and the City provided temporary accommodation at Wingfield and Paint City under pandemic emergency measures.
Initially, the intention was to house the group temporarily while their immigration or asylum claims were addressed through national government channels. But over time, many of the occupants left voluntarily, while a smaller group remained and refused all alternative offers for reintegration or support.
The City of Cape Town has argued that it cannot fund indefinite accommodation for individuals who refuse to engage with available legal and social support systems.
Mayor Hill-Lewis noted that significant resources have already been allocated, including security, sanitation, and basic amenities — all of which are unsustainable in the long term.
“The City’s role is not to offer international resettlement services — that’s a function of national and international bodies like the Department of Home Affairs and UNHCR,” said Hill-Lewis.
Several civil society organisations have raised concerns about how the eviction process will be handled and whether alternative housing or support will be available.
However, Hill-Lewis has maintained that the City has acted within legal and humanitarian bounds, offering social support and reintegration assistance to those willing to engage constructively.
“Many have already accepted help and moved on with their lives. But we cannot allow a situation where laws are ignored and public resources are endlessly consumed,” he said.
The case will now proceed through the court system, with the City arguing for legal clearance to proceed with evictions, and the remaining occupants expected to oppose the application.
The outcome could set an important legal precedent regarding municipal responsibilities during humanitarian crises — especially when temporary solutions become prolonged.
Until then, Hill-Lewis says the City will maintain basic services and continue encouraging occupants to accept lawful alternatives before a court-enforced eviction is considered.
With the Hill-Lewis administration taking a firm stance on enforcing the rule of law and preserving public resources, the formal eviction process marks a new chapter in one of Cape Town’s most persistent and complex human rights dilemmas.
As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes will be on the balance between humanitarian care and lawful governance in one of South Africa’s most globally-watched refugee cases.
Source- EWN
