VIDEO: Homeless fed in Tshwane #MandelaDay
"We believe that today (Mandela day) should be the start of a long relationship which we will build with the homeless community to address their issues and concerns one at a time."
Celebrating 67 minutes for Mandela Day, 67 metres of boerewors was braaied on Thursday at Koffiehuis Drop-In Centre for the Homeless in Arcadia.
The event was held by the DA Gauteng Provincial Legislature Caucus leader, Solly Msimanga along with other DA members to feed approximately 150 homeless people in Tshwane on Thursday.
This initiative comes after the murders of homeless people in Tshwane in recent weeks.
DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Social Development Crezane Bosch said The homeless community was a voiceless community that needed to be heard.
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“In general people tend to only focus on Madiba day to reach out, but we believe that today should be the start of a long relationship which we will build with the homeless community to address their issues and concerns one at a time.”
Bosch said the building up of the homeless people needed to carry on until they could find true freedom and integration back into society.
Bosch said society could not assume it knew what the homeless needed.
She said there was a need for shelters in the province, and the homeless had long since raised this.
Msimanga said he was concerned about the multiple killings of the homeless in Tshwane last month, and that it was time they got love.
“We want to share the little that we have with the homeless – our love, care and compassion, ” he said.
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Msimanga said a lot of them were not homeless by choice and Nelson Mandela would have appreciated society showing some selflessness and to be there for other people.
“We are not here for photos but to have an impactful contribution in somebody else’s life.”
Listen:
https://soundcloud.com/thato-mahope/solly-msimanga-speaks-on-67-min
Khutso Maoko (18) said he appreciated that people spent time with the homeless.
He said seeing how society cared was comforting.
“I became homeless after feuds at home with my stepmum.”
He said after many fights he felt he had to leave home for the sake of peace for his younger sisters.
The DA also handed out beanies to the homeless to keep them warm as well as food and drink.
Watch:
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