JP Smith, Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, called a press conference today (March 5) to address issues around the refugees who were moved from Greenmarket Square on Sunday 1 March.
Smith alleges that the South African Police Service shifted the goalposts in terms of their participation in a joint operation that was meant to move the refugees who were squatting on the sidewalks around Greenmarket Square.
On Monday Cape Town’s law enforcement officers escorted the refugees to Cape Town Central police station to be voluntarily arrested.
The City law enforcement services had earlier on Monday given them the option of either being escorted out of the city or to face arrest, they chose to be arrested.