More attention to be given to vulnerable groups, including vagrants

The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) hopes that construction on 20 houses for people with disabilities and youth-headed households will have started by the end of 2019.

The houses will be constructed through a partnership with AfriSam, which was developed through CoE’s social labour plan.

This was announced by executive mayor Clr Mzwandile Masina at the final sitting of the CoE’s council on November 28 at Germiston Council Chambers.

Masina said the houses will be constructed in the Mackenzieville area.

Another vulnerable group to which CoE hopes to give more attention is vagrants.

“As a city, we have an obligation to ensure that we develop a mechanism to deal with this challenge as well as the societal and safety concerns raised by our communities in relation to vagrants,” said Masina.

“The city is in the process of developing a strategy on how to deal with vagrants. This strategy will be finalised before the end of this financial year.”

With just under 16 months before the end of their terms, Masina urged councillors to finalise their plans for the city.

He said the commitment to build a local economy that grows in the hands of the people and to develop our communities economically, socially and culturally must be reaffirmed.

“I cannot over-emphasise the importance of all of us employing a great degree of urgency in the work that we are doing.”

Masina said poverty, unemployment and inequalities are a reality in the city and must be addressed.

“For this reason, the city has been very deliberate in directing resources to areas of most need, while simultaneously prioritising economic development and investment.”