Tshwane metro sets up unit to help homeless move to long-term shelters

Community and social development services MMC Thabisile Vilakazi could not, however, indicate where these “long- term” facilities are based.

“Immediately after her appointment, [Vilakazi] had put homelessness at the top of her agenda and in line with the mayor’s strategic priorities,” said Kamogelo Mangena, a spokesperson from the MMC’s office.

Mangena said the reinstated DA administration has inherited a department with no dedicated unit to deal with homelessness.

“Working with various NGOs, we quickly established this unit, at no additional cost, to co-ordinate the department’s efforts.

“Our intention is to formally launch this directorate soon because it is critical that the metro play a more assertive role in this space.”

He said the directorate new had seen the department pulling in staff and restructuring aspects of the social development department.

He said furthermore a verification process of beneficiaries was being conducted by the metro.

“This process is expected to be completed over the coming weeks.”

The announcement of the new unit comes after the new MMC visited the Struben Street homeless shelter last week Friday.

The shelter is the only homeless shelter run by the Tshwane metro and is in the process of being decommissioned.

Overcrowding, a lack of maintenance and criminality have dogged the dilapidated shelter.

“Some residents who are living in the building are not in fact homeless,” Vilakazi said during her visit.

She said some individuals were even attempting to effectively extort others living at the site or were engaging in criminal activities.

Vilakazi said they will identify which individuals at the shelter can be considered as vulnerable and then provide the necessary assistance.

“Currently, the next strategic intention is to ensure that the site is totally decommissioned and that all criminal elements are removed.”

In September, Gauteng MEC for social development Dr Nomathembu Mokgethi said the shelter was deemed “non-habitable”.

Vilakazi said since then, conditions were allowed to deteriorate further.

“MEC Mokgethi visited the shelter while the city was under the control of the administration, indicating that it must be decommissioned urgently. Despite receiving this instruction the administrators failed to take any action.”

Vilakazi said since visiting the site and engaging with some residents at the building she had established that there was a severe problem with overcrowding, while many of the individuals who were living in the building were not in fact homeless.