CoCT evicts foreign nationals from Green Market Square and Central Methodist Church

CAPE TOWN - A group of about 160 foreign nationals is set to be evicted from two sites in Cape Town soon.

The occupants were initially relocated to Wingfield and Paint City under the COVID-19 level five lockdown emergency regulations.

This followed their eviction from Green Market Square and the Central Methodist Church in the city's CBD.

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said hundreds of foreign nationals have accepted support to move from the sites, but the remaining occupants have refused all offers of assistance.

Hill-Lewis said the demands of the occupants for relocation to Europe or Canada can never lawfully be met, nor can the state continue to bear expenses related to the sites.

"It's important to note, this is the start of the eviction process... 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, and that is good news; that's a positive development."