Cape Town - The City of Cape Town said the construction of the 300-bed Safe Space was still under way and expected to open in the coming months.
The site is situated on a previously underutilised portion of the City’s Roads depot under the fly-over bridge on Ebenezer Road in Green Point.
In light of reports that it was meant to accommodate those occupying the Three Anchor Bay Tennis Club, the City said the site was not yet ready or available for occupation.
“In the case of Green Point tennis courts unlawful occupants, Safe Space accommodation was offered at the City’s existing two Safe Spaces at Culemborg.
“It should be noted in quoting Mr Mesquita that he is employed by the GOOD Party and allegations that Green Point has been offered to any person for occupation currently are false.”
This follows a violent eviction by the sheriff of the High Court and police of those at the Green Point tennis courts on February 22.
A former homeless man now assisting the homeless, and founder of Outsider, Carlos Mesquita, said: “The City had in actual fact almost immediately after the court postponed the eviction based on the City’s inability to house the residents, and the mayor’s sudden announcement of this new safe space called for applicants to service the site.
“This was done as far back as a year ago (very quietly, I might add) and the process was shut by April and a service provider awarded the contract, without any of this being known in the sector beforehand.
“This all seems to support the notion that this Safe Space was meant to be on fast track to be used as the City’s motivation for the eviction in court, where they had to convince a judge that they had sufficient and suitable accommodation for those they wanted to evict.”
The City’s Safe Spaces bed capacity will be over 1 000 once new facilities open. These include 480 beds at Culemborg 1 and 2 in the east CBD; 300 beds at the forthcoming Green Point Safe Space; 200 beds at Paint City Safe Space in Bellville CBD; and 30 beds at the forthcoming Durbanville Safe Space located at the PTI.