The eviction at Bill Peters Tent City is underway today after a roughly two-year legal process. This has been a location of sincere public interest throughout and without surprise, drew a flurry of attention by numerous reporting agencies who arrived on site from early this morning. It is with much disappointment, even with photo and video evidence to the contrary, that select media houses still insisted on publishing a series of false allegations.
Those remaining unlawfully on the site, were repeatedly informed that those on the site would be evicted today, with notices to such effect prominently displayed around the site. For agencies to state that those living there were treated disrespectfully and were not even allowed time to grab their ID, is a despicable style of reporting and while it is expected for propaganda and fake news to run rampant before any election period, it should not be tolerated by organisation’s who feature within the main stream segment.
During this two year period Law Enforcement’ displaced people unit and the City’s social development officials engaged the illegal occupants on multiple occasions to offer them alternative accommodation.
These offers of alternative accommodation are continued today.
The Sheriff and SAPS are leading the eviction and City enforcement is supporting their efforts while waste management is cleansing the area.
There is a Law Enforcement deployment plan in place to secure the property and ensure it doesn’t get occupied again post-eviction and fire services were on the scene due to a structure that was set on fire by one of the occupants.
Despite the best efforts by the City, The Natiinal governments PIE Act imposes an unrealistic and unreasonable burden of protection on public property owners, and where illegal occupants choose not to accept alternative accommodation, property owners are forced to approach the court for eviction causing substantial delays to clear public open spaces.
The City is committed to clearing unlawfully occupied public spaces across the Metropole. We are increasing our safe space footprint and adding resources to our displaced people unit within Law Enforcement.
We urge the public to phone 021 480 7700 to report any attempt to occupy public open space.