A house for homeless people in Fochville is facing controversy after neighbours started complaining about problems with the facility.

The Genadehuis (Mercy House) has been run as a shelter for homeless people in the town for more than a decade. Neighbours, however, say that they started experiencing problems soon after the privately run facility moved to its current location at 12 Poortjie Street around February 2024.

According to Hans Niewenhuizen, one of the neighbours, some of the people who stay at Genadehuis often shout, display aggressive behaviour, and use foul language toward other residents. There are also sometimes physical fights between these people.

Niewenhuizen and several other neighbours have caught some of the people coming from Genadehuis entering their yards and attempting to steal their property. In a recent incident, one of these people left behind dangerous items, including a sharpened screwdriver and a knife mounted on a rubber pipe, when he was chased from the Niewenhuizen’s yard.

“This used to be a peaceful area, but has become so bad after the facility opened here that we do not feel safe in our own yards anymore. We never had such problems before Genadehuis moved here,” another resident told the Herald.

Some of the neighbours have also witnessed other problems, like residents of the house stealing flour donated for the bakery run by the Genadehuis to raise funds.

The situation has become so bad that the neighbours drew up a petition this week, wherein they ask that authorities such as the Department of Social Services and the SAPS intervene to so ensure that the facility complies with legislation and is run according to the law.

“Although we recognise the role of transitional housing and support services, it is critical that such facilities are managed responsibly and do not endanger the broader community,” the petition reads.

Genadehuis responds

When contacted about the problems, Ds Gys Els, who runs the facility, directed the Herald to Ockie Kritzinger, the project manager at Genadehuis.

“We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the allegations and proposed petition regarding Genadehuis. We need to address these concerns, as they directly impact both our organisation and the surrounding community. We recognise the seriousness of the incidents mentioned in your letter, and we are committed to ensuring that we handle these matters with the utmost care and attention. Our goal is to foster an environment of trust and accountability for everyone involved.

We believe that working collaboratively with community members, local authorities, and social services can lead to a more positive outcome. We must focus on building an inclusive community where both residents and others can coexist in safety. By fostering open communication and understanding, we can tackle the challenges as a concerned community. In recent months, there have been claims that the community has faced repeated incidents of troubling behaviour. It is important to clarify that while these incidents are indeed occurring, the assertion that residents of Genadehuis are responsible for them is not accurate. We acknowledge the concerns raised by community members, but it is crucial to correctly identify the sources of these issues to address them effectively and foster a safe environment for all. The individuals causing these disturbances are not part of the Genadehuis community; rather, they are individuals living on the streets. This distinction is significant because it highlights that our residents are not engaged in the actions that have raised alarm among neighbours.

By addressing this misconception, we hope to ease some of the tensions and fears that may have arisen as a result of misinformation regarding the behaviour witnessed in the area. Moreover, we have actively engaged with these individuals to discuss their actions, particularly those related to drug related crimes. Our outreach efforts aim to understand the root causes of their behaviour and seek solutions that could help improve the overall safety of our community. This engagement reflects a commitment to not only addressing the symptoms of the problem but also working towards long-term resolutions that benefit everyone.

We believe that working collaboratively with community members, local authorities, and social services can lead to a more positive outcome. We must focus on building an inclusive community where both residents and others can coexist in safety. By fostering open communication and understanding, we can tackle the challenges posed by the presence of individuals struggling with difficult circumstances while also ensuring the well-being of those who call Genadehuis home.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasise that a meeting was convened on October 17 to address the concerns raised by our neighbours regarding various issues in the community. The goal of this meeting was to foster understanding and collaboration among all parties involved.We value community engagement, and we hope that this meeting will serve as a constructive platform to discuss potential solutions to the ongoing challenges. Unfortunately, despite our efforts to provide a space for dialogue, the invited neighbours chose to express their discontent by disrupting the meeting outside the gates.
Their actions included shouting insults and using foul language, which created a disheartening atmosphere for those who were present and willing to engage in meaningful discussion. This behaviour is regrettable, as it undermines the potential for productive communication and resolution.

As the management team, we remain dedicated to addressing the concerns related to homelessness in our community. Our commitment has not wavered, regardless of the disruptions that occurred during the meeting.

We recognise that homelessness is a complex issue that requires collaboration, compassion, and a continued focus on finding viable solutions that benefit everyone involved.

We appreciate the input from all community members and are keen to ensure their voices are heard in future discussions. It is essential to create an inclusive environment where all can share their views without fear of backlash or negativity. We believe that by working together, we can overcome the challenges we face and develop strategies that foster harmony and support for those in need.

Moving forward, we invite everyone in the community to participate in future meetings and to engage in respectful dialogue. It is only through cooperation and understanding that we can effectively address the concerns related to homelessness.

We are committed to using our resources and networks to seek innovative solutions, and we hope to see a more constructive approach from everyone involved in future conversations,” said Kritzinger.

Other responses

The Herald contacted the station commander of the Fochville Police Station, Lieutenant-Colonel Levy Molepo.

He promised to look into the increased crime in the area of Genadehuis.

The spokesperson of the Gauteng Department of Social Services, Busi Kheswa, forwarded the residents’ petition to officials at this department’s regional office for further investigation.

The Merafong City Local Municipality’s Marketing and Communication Manager, Temba Fezani, also responded.

“A site inspection will be conducted to verify the land use and necessary steps will be undertaken,” he said.