A total of 6000 refugees are to be moved to a newly identified site in Bellville to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Refugees have been without a place to stay after they were evicted from the Central Methodist Mission and Greenmarket Square at the end of February.
The refugees have since split up into groups and sleep in and around the city centre.
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille said she had to prioritise the refugees during the lockdown, who would be among the most vulnerable to contracting the Coronavirus.
PLANNING: Patricia de Lille and Zahid Badroodien
“We have been working together with the City to look at accommodation for the refugees and homeless. There are about 6000 refugee people in the City,” she said.
“For now we have prioritised the refugees because we are very concerned that we’re sitting on a time bomb in the church - there’s no social distancing, even the refugees who are out on the street at the moment, they congregate in groups of 100 and more, so it’s of concern with the Coronavirus.
“This is the first site that we are preparing; we’re in the process of procuring another marquee tent that can at least fit 600 people, in Voortrekker Road in Maitland.”
Minister of Public Works Patricia de Lille. Video: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency(ANA)
De Lille said that following the City’s court order to remove the refugees from the church, the City, Home Affairs Department and police would come together to come up with a plan on the move them to the Bellville site.
“In terms of food and emergency staff, we must make a public call for help. We should not be concerned about money in the meantime, we should be concerned about saving lives - R60 000 was spent on this site using the Public Works Budget,” said De Lille.
Mayco Member for Community Services Zahid Badroodien said the City had identified seven locations to permanently house about 4000 homeless people.
A shelter in Bellville being prepared for the refugees that are currently homeless. Video: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency(ANA
Cape Times