Watch: Officers remove refugees from Green Market Square [video]

A group of refugees camped outside the Central Methodist Church at Green Market Square in Cape Town was evicted by law enforcement on Sunday.

This comes after a court order granted to the City of Cape Town on 17 February, which allowed for the removal of the group, who had been occupying the area since October 2019.

It was ordered that the City begin a process of relocating the refugees.

Two weeks after the ruling, handed down at the Western Cape High Court, law enforcement moved to legally evict the group, estimated to be around 700 people.

It was a largely calm operation, with the authorities getting little pushback from the campers, save for some heckling and chanting.

Watch law enforcement remove refugees from Green Market Square here:

#CTRefugees The CoCT is this morning enforcing its by-laws as per a Western Cape interim court order, against refugees camped outside the Central Methodist Church in the CT CBD. SF pic.twitter.com/GkBXFoJd5G

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 1, 2020

Unhappy campers in the Cape Town CBD

The City had taken the campers to court after numerous complaints made by nearby businesses.

The refugees were accused of violating bylaws by urinating and defecating on private property.

The group had been demanding that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHRC) helps facilitate their exit from South Africa, relocating them to a country where they would not be subjected to xenophobic violence.

They were invited to take up shelter in the church by Reverend Alan Storey.

City of Cape Town’s JP Smith had earlier promised strict action against those who interfere with law enforcement’s operations during the eviction.

“People not complying with the court’s instructions will be liable for arrest and detention at the SAPS in order for the court to continue hearing that matter,” said Smith.

JP Smith

The refugees have accused the City of caring more about bylaws than human beings.