NPOs urges community not to look down on homeless people
Homeless people were encouraged to make use of the skills development programmes because these will help them move out of the shelters and stand on their own two feet.
Local organisations that support homeless people call on the community not to look down on them.
On Friday, homeless people came together to commemorate World Homeless Day by taking part in a 2km fun walk at Denlyn Mall.
The walk took place in partnership with the Department of Social Development, which commemorated the day together with 12 non-profit organisations from around Tshwane that support homeless people.
Tebogo Mpufane from Life Changing Projects said others shouldn’t look down on homeless people.
He said people needed to look after them and understand them, where they come from and see where one could assist them.
Mpufane also encouraged people to invest in charities that support the homeless.
He said celebrating World Homeless Day meant putting vulnerable people first.
“You don’t know when you’re going to get your last paycheck. Life is like an unpredictable scene in a movie,” said Mpufane.
Tebello Mkhonto, social development chief director responsible for social welfare and specialised services, said the day was a reminder that “we are all part of a global community, and that we have a duty to help our fellow citizens experiencing homelessness”.
She said when Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi took office last October, he declared homelessness one of the province’s main priorities.
“We need to ensure we have shelters for those who don’t have places to stay. For those who are in shelters, the premier gave a mandate that we need to ensure they are integrated back into the community.
“We urge homeless people at shelters to use the opportunity to use the skills development programmes offered to them, to take them seriously as they will help them move out of the shelters and stand on their own two feet,” said Mkhonto.
Tshwane deputy social development director Tinyiko Maluleke said World Homeless Day was a special day set aside by the international community to pause and reflect on the challenges those who are homeless have.
He said the day was celebrated every year on October 10.
“The city approved a street homelessness policy in 2019 and the aim is to put all the priorities in place to deal with issues of homelessness,” said Maluleke.
He said one of these was the establishment of shelters in all seven regions in Tshwane and since the start of Covid-19, 11 shelters have been set up for women and men.
Ward 38 councillor Saul Ratau said: “This is a good initiative and we need more homelessness awareness campaigns to help them get off the street and back in the community.”
Ratau said he had a lot of homeless people in his ward, who were mostly drug addicts living at abandoned hostel blocks.
“We are praying Tshwane metro and government come up with an intervention strategy plan to end homelessness or to find shelters for the homeless,” he said.
Thabo Kgotsi from Thandanani Drop Inn Centre said it took care of the homeless by doing laundry for them at the Mamelodi hostels.
He said the mobile laundry services for the homeless were officially launched last year. “The laundry services had been available at the centre for a couple of years and showers, bathrooms as well as laundry rooms were also available.”
ALSO READ: HRC offers to help UP deal with campus ‘racial tension’
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
