“It’s not a life I would wish on anyone, but this is home to us”

However, the group will soon have to face another battle with the South African Defence Force (SANDF) who plan to permanently remove the group from the land. The land the group is on is owned by the SANDF.

The group of about 70 people — many of them Tanzanian foreign nationals — have been occupying the land under the bridge off Strand Street near the city centre for the past five years.

When GroundUp visited the group this week, a large group of men were sitting around a fire behind an open area where about ten tents were standing. The group had asked not to be interviewed or photographed.

However, one of the occupants, Candice Aploon, 25, invited GroundUp to her small grey tent she shares with her boyfriend.

Aploon said the group were motivated to get the tents to avoid the strong winter winds and rain during winter.

“We were first living in the cardboard boxes and plastic bags. This year all of us decided to get tents so we can be warmer during winter. It’s so cold during winter. We got some blankets and clothes from people who pass here, but when it rained we still got wet. At least the tents will help a bit,” she said.

When asked how the group managed to buy the tents, she said: “Most of us don’t have jobs, but some of the guys make a bit of money guarding cars, pushing trolleys from the shops at the parade and recycling plastics. I don’t work, but one of the guys bought it for me. We always had a problem with law enforcement coming and taking our stuff. Now they leave us alone.”

Aploon, who has been living on the streets in the city centre for the past seven years, said they were confident about making the area their home as they had an agreement with the SANDF.

“About five years ago we got permission from the soldiers to stay here. It’s really not a life I would wish on anyone, but this is home to us,” she said.

A man who identified himself as Rasta emerges from a tent. Photo by Masixole Feni.

Meanwhile, Castle Control Board member, Colonel Richard Mongo denied that the group were given permission to live on the land.

“They are living there illegally. We have tried on numerous occasions to remove the group, but they keep coming back. We didn’t have enough guards to protect that area. We are just waiting on the City of Cape Town officials to get back to us about assisting with an eviction. We want to do this as soon as possible. The situation has become unbearable,” he said.

Mongo said they have received numerous complaints about the group allegedly trespassing inside the Castle and defecating near the entrance to the army base.

“There are so many complaints about this group. They have tried to rob one of the soldiers and they threw stones at the cars coming into the base when we tried taking photo documentation of the occupation. These people are making fires and disposing of their faeces at the wall of the castle,” he said.

Mongo said he could not confirm when the eviction would be carried out.

Photo by Masixole Feni.