THE Congress of First Indigenous Leaders Royal administration wants Western Cape Premier Helen Zille dragged before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committing "genocide in Hout Bay".

Khoi chief Nico Nel on Saturday accused Zille of "declaring a state of emergency and using excessive military force against Hangberg residents to force them off their land".

Nel said their lawyer was in the process of approaching the Western Cape high court to apply for an interdict to stop the city from demolishing 54 more occupied shacks in the area.

Apart from that, he said Zille should be charged with "terrorism and violence against humanity" at the ICC since the police used brute force against the residents.

Though life seemed to have returned to normal at the weekend, he said: "We are in a state of emergency in Hout Bay. People are not sleeping. They have to watch out to protect their community."

At least 15 metro police and city law enforcement members were injured and 62 residents arrested last week as community members resisted the dismantling of illegal shacks built up the slopes of Sentinel Hill.

Nel said no single resident would be forced out of the community because "we are the heritage, we are the indigenous people".

He accused Zille of applying apartheid laws and trying to evict Hangberg residents in order to "protect white interests".

Community leader Gregg Louw said Zille, who had "stepped out of line, should withdraw her troops and the eviction order, and re-establish communication with us".

"She knows who she should talk to in this community. What we are requesting is not unreasonable," Louw said.

City media manager Kylie Hatton said the police would maintain their visibility in the area to maintain law and order.

She said illegal shacks were demolished after residents had encroached on a firebreak.

The city would not withdraw its court application to demolish 54 occupied shacks since residents had invaded land earmarked for upgraded developments, she said.