Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has described the areas illegally occupied by foreign nationals in Bellville and Kensington, as a local source of crime and grime.

Hill-Lewis says they were meant to be there temporarily during COVID-19 but have since rejected attempts to assist them to move.

The foreign nationals fled the townships in 2020 alleging xenophobia.

The City of Cape Town as well as the Departments of Home Affairs and Public Works have jointly applied for an eviction order at the Western Cape High Court.

Hill-Lewis says the foreign nationals cannot expect to remain on government land illegally forever.

“This tent has been here since COVID and it has been a source of a lot of problems, of local crime, of local grime, a lot if unsafe incidents. The living conditions have deteriorated inside the tent. We are here to announce that we are now going to file these papers to seek the eviction of these foreign nationals from this place. We have offered them and Home Affairs has offered them a lot of assistance over the years. Most of the offers have unfortunately been refused. They simply cannot stay here forever.”