ABOUT

Known as the Greenmarket Square refugee sit-in, over 600 protestors, majority originating from DRC, Kenya, Somalia & Burundi took refuge in the Central Methodist church as well as on the streets surrounding Greenmarket Square in Cape Town, South Africa during October 2019. Their intention was to escape xenophobic attacks and seek assistance in relocating to a country of safety.

On 1 March 2020, the City of Cape Town actioned a Western Cape High Court ruling enabling municipal by-laws to be enforced. Those occupying the sidewalks for almost 5 months were surrounded by over 100 law enforcement officers including riot police. Eviction of hundreds of men, women and children began as cranes and clean up services dismantled makeshift homes.

The series was shot over a month long period from 30th January until the refugees were forced to vacate Greenmarket Square on 1st March 2020. It documents their daily lives, focusing predominantly on the children, most of whom were born in South Africa yet have no legal documentation and until recently have been unable to apply for citizenship(1) due to the foreign nationality of their parents.


(1) eNCA. “#DStv403 - Children born to foreigners in SA eligible to apply for citizenship.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 27 Feb 2020. Web. 2 Mar 2020