Only 1 134 shelter beds to cater for 25 384 homeless
The Department of Social Development admits inadequacies as we speak to some who are, or have been destitute in the city.
International World Homeless Day gives society an opportunity to recognise individuals sleeping rough in their cities and to apply their minds to how to eradicate it.
The Johannesburg Homelessness Network (JHN) – based in Alberts Farm – brings different role players from civil society, government, and faith-based organisations together to chart a way forward on homelessness.
Founded by Mary Gillett-de Klerk, the network embarked on an ambitious project with the Joburg Inner City Social Economy Project whereby urban farms are a tool used to help enrolled men and women transition off the streets sustainably.
Johannesburg Homelessness Network makes a difference
Sheila Jacobs (46) from KZN finished school and comes from a happy family without a history of abuse, addiction, or trouble. She gave birth to a baby boy in 2018 and for a couple of years managed to sustain herself with various jobs but nothing that paid enough to sustain herself and her child.
She came to the City of Gold to look for work opportunities, which she hoped would be forthcoming as she is well-spoken, intelligent and hard-working, but they eluded her.
Not wanting to be a burden to her family, she and her young son became homeless despite heroic efforts to prevent it.
Sleeping in a park in Hillbrow with other homeless who became protective of the pair, she found a local church to attend where she found solace and comfort.
This set off a chain of events that eventually led her to the JHN and a job at one of their urban farming projects in Bez Valley.
“It is crazy how life can move from all right to being in a crisis in such a short timeframe. It can truly happen to anyone – so please don’t judge all homeless as if they are drug addicts and nuisances to society.”
She has managed to rent a small but safe place for them to live and her son is enrolled in school.
“I remember coming back to the park one day after taking my son to the clinic, and the JMPD had raided the park and confiscated all of our belongings. The few things we had were gone. It was a terrible day, but you have to keep going and put one foot in front of the other and keep peace in your heart.”
The JHN project makes use of a multifaceted approach, which includes social workers and partnerships with local government to try and tackle homelessness holistically.
Spokesperson for the Department of Social Development Nkosana Mtolo said Gauteng had eight shelters with 1 134 beds to cater for the 25 384 homeless and one drug rehab in Cullinan.
“We need to elevate calls for a multistakeholder and rights-based approach towards understanding homelessness as an expression of structural failure so as not to criminalise or patronise the homeless.”
He lists the following as the biggest drivers of people finding themselves homeless – job losses, unsuccessful job seeking, family relationship conflicts including domestic violence, as well as addiction to illicit substances.
It’s not good, but it’s life
The Northcliff Melville Times arrived unannounced at a park in Fairlands at dusk to speak to some men who sleep there. They were busy boiling some water with bones in an old tin and seemed sober.
Sunnyboi Ntimba (50) has been sleeping there for two years after losing a job in the area, which he had held for years, due to the Covid-19 lockdown. “I can’t afford to rent a place because I need to send any little money I earn back to Limpopo for my children, so I have to sleep outside. It is hard and not how I thought my life would be like.”
Enoc Khumalo (47) says he has slept in the park for years and also sends money home to his children in another province. “I don’t earn enough to pay for transport and rent and also buy food for my children.”
They describe waking up with the sunrise each day, putting their belongings in a bundle and starting a day hoping for a lucky break.
Khumalo says, “By sleeping here we are close to job opportunities, and we don’t have to walk far to do that – like if we slept somewhere far away like Windsor. It is hard on foot to travel distances. So where can we go? This is not good, but it is life.”
They have both had their belongings removed by various entities or groups. This included losing ID books, medication and blankets, but they accept it is just their reality because they sleep in a public space.
Kafimbwa Kaoma (30) lives nearby but is currently unemployed. He spends time with his friends in the park and says, “It is not as simple as people think for everyone to find work and lead a balanced life.”
Where must we go?
Ntimba says, “Some homeless make trouble and are naughty but not all of us. When my medication is taken I am in a bad place because the clinic says I sell it but I don’t – people come and clean me out. But it is okay, what can I do?”
Asked about groups that come to clean the park, he says, “It is fine, it is everyone’s park, but I try to keep my things against the wall or in a tree if it is wet. A lot of people use this park and make a mess during the day and even at night; it is nice to clean it.”
When asked why they chose the park to sleep in they asked, “Where must we go?”
Mary Gillett-de Klerk says, “The President [Cyril Ramaphosa] established the social employment fund, as part of the President’s Employment Stimulus Programme, where a social economy fund was made available to help the homeless access the first rung of employment or to get training to make them employable.”
“We submitted a bid with other organisations, which was successful. For now, our focus is mainly on the inner-city and surrounding suburbs.”
Four sites have been established in Alberts Farm, Inner City, Randburg and Rosebank, respectively.
If you would like to connect with De-Klerk, you may email her at joburghomelessnetwork@gmail.com
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