Ladles of Love’s annual Dining With Dignity lunch, held in celebration of World Homeless Day, served as a stark reminder that Alexandra’s vulnerable and destitute residents are not forgotten.
The organisation shared not just meals with Alexandra’s unhoused residents, but it also delivered a needed message of compassion and community care.

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The event, hosted on October 10, provided a moment of relief for those living with hunger and displacement. Phindile Nkosi, Ladles of Love’s Johannesburg manager, said the initiative was about restoring humanity to those excluded from basic services. “We are celebrating the day with people who are destitute and do not have shelter or food. Today, we are here to remind them that they are human and we love them.”

Nkosi said that the event had become an annual tradition in the community. “They are used to it, and when they see us pitching tents, they know that they are going to get what they always get every year.” The consistency of the initiative, along with her weekly soup kitchen, has made Ladles of Love a beacon of hope for the homeless in the community.

Among the attendees was Mduduzi Nkambule, who lauded the organisation’s efforts. “We are trying to make ends meet,” Nkambule said. “She [Nkosi] has been giving us food. So, even when she called to me to come get something today, I did not hesitate.”

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World Homeless Day, observed annually on October 10, aims to raise awareness of homelessness and encourage local responses. In Gauteng, particularly in Johannesburg, the homelessness crisis is especially acute, at least according to the A Profile of Homeless Persons in South Africa, 2022 report published by Statistics SA earlier this year. According to the report, Gauteng accounts for 46% of the country’s homeless population. Within metropolitan areas, the City of Johannesburg accounts for the second-highest proportion of homeless individuals at 15.6%, following the City of Tshwane, which leads with 18.1%.

The report identifies economic hardship as the leading cause of homelessness, with the majority of homeless men citing financial reasons. Substance abuse, family conflict, and lack of income also contribute significantly to the crisis. These issues, especially economic hardships and substance abuse, are common in Alexandra and have been flagged as some of the pressing challenges the residents are grappling with.

For Nkosi, the solution to the homelessness issue requires people to prioritise empathy and over judgment. “Community-driven responses to poverty and homelessness must be rooted in compassion, not judgment,” she emphasised.

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