Dozens Forced Out of Green Point Informal Settlement Following Lawful Eviction Order Near Cape Town Stadium

Dozens are displaced as Cape Town officials enforce a court-ordered eviction at Granger Bay Boulevard to make way for a new construction project.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 10:50 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from GroundUp

Forced Removal and Demolition at Granger Bay Boulevard

The coastal precinct of Green Point became a scene of significant tension on Wednesday as city officials initiated a large scale clearance of an informal settlement directly opposite the Cape Town stadium. By early afternoon, heavy machinery was utilized to break down makeshift shelters that had housed dozens of people along Granger Bay Boulevard. The operation, executed by the Sheriff of the Court with support from the South African Police Service and municipal Law Enforcement, resulted in about 40 individuals being moved onto the pavement with their remaining personal belongings. This intervention marks a decisive end to a long standing residential occupation in one of the city's high profile tourism and sporting zones.

A Legal Conclusion to a Protracted Engagement Process

According to Ward 54 Councillor Nicola Jowell, the eviction was not a sudden act but the culmination of an extensive legal and social engagement process. Councillor Jowell stated in a social media release that the City had made ongoing offers of assistance to those living on the site to help them transition into more stable and sustainable housing options. When these voluntary offers were repeatedly declined over a period of time, the municipality pursued a formal legal route through the court system. This process eventually yielded a lawful eviction order, which the Sheriff was mandated to carry out this week to reclaim the public land.

Humanitarian Concerns and the Dilemma of Alternative Shelter

The reality on the ground reflected the deep personal distress of those who had called the boulevard home, some for over a decade. Siyabulela Ngalo, a resident of ten years, expressed profound hurt over the removal, noting that he and others had invested their lives into the local community. Other residents, such as Catherine Jumat, raised urgent concerns about the welfare of vulnerable family members, including disabled children, who now face an uncertain future. While the City officially offered relocation to Safe Spaces or assistance in returning to family networks, many residents remained hesitant, citing the restrictive rules and policies governing municipal shelters as a primary reason for their refusal to move.