Kempton’s streets home to more than 800 homeless
Drugs are also a big part of the problem, as most of them are addicts
KEMPTON Park’s streets are currently home to an estimated 800 vagrants or more, about four times more than just two years ago.
According to ward councillor Jaco Terblanche, 85 per cent of the vagrants are in Ward 16 suburbs, which include the CBD, Kempton ext 2-4, Allen Grove, Nimrod Park, Aston Manor and Glen Marais ext 1-7.
And it does not seem like there is a definite solution to the problem in the near future.
It is always the same reasons that make it so difficult to control the number of homeless people begging in certain areas, Terblanche says. “It is because the community continuously gives them food and clothes – that is why they stay.”
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The situation has become so bad that a growing number of vagrants have even set up camping tents outside and opposite the magistrate’s court along CR Swart Drive.
Drugs are also a big part of the problem, as most of them are addicts, Terblanche explains.
“I have spoken to them personally and about 85 per cent of the homeless people are on drugs. Only about 15 per cent of them are on the streets because they really don’t have homes or anywhere to go. The others just don’t want to adhere to the rules which come with living in a household with other people.”
Most of the vagrants who use drugs actually have homes and families – some live in Edleen and Glen Marais.
However, their families have chased them away because some steal from them to support their drug habits.
And finding them homes is not easy, either. There are NGOs and shelters willing to take the homeless in, but the issue is that many do not want to follow rules and regulations.
There are certain rules that have to be adhered to. For example, local NGO MES has strict rules and regulations regarding what time residents must go to sleep and wake up, and drugs and alcohol are not allowed.
Terblanche had a meeting with a Kempton-based NGO that is willing to give space to the homeless around Kempton. He added the metro was also willing to convert empty municipal houses into shelters. In Kempton there are two possible houses that could be used.
“We would like to invite and encourage other NGOs, which are able to, to help in combating the problem by accommodating them.”
He said he submitted written questions to the council asking if there were more shelters available in Gauteng that could accommodate Kempton’s homeless.
The community is urged to help get the homeless to shelters or rehab centres. For more information, call Terblanche on 083 413 2420.
