A recent operation to remove people sleeping in a local park and around the historic Pretoria North City Hall has once again highlighted the growing crisis of homelessness in Pretoria North.

While residents have welcomed the clearing of the area, the issue remains far from resolved, with many displaced people returning soon after removals take place.

The situation has placed renewed pressure on the municipality to prioritise long-term solutions, including the creation of additional shelters and sustainable social support programmes.

Ward 2 Councillor Quentin Meyer confirmed that the people occupying the park and sleeping outside City Hall have been reported to TMPD, who subsequently conducted removal operations.

Meyer emphasised that these interventions provide only temporary relief.

“Even when removals take place, many of them return the next day. The real challenge is that we urgently need more shelters and proper long-term solutions,” said Meyer.

While the councillor’s office continues to arrange regular clean-ups to keep the affected areas neat and safe, the lack of suitable accommodation for homeless people means the cycle of displacement persists.

Meyer said the issue is not limited to a single park or ward. Instead, it forms part of a broader community challenge driven by economic hardship, unemployment, rising living costs, and limited access to social services.

The area around City Hall has become a point of concern for both residents and the councillor.

Once known as a symbol of civic pride, the building has deteriorated in recent years and has increasingly attracted people seeking shelter.

Local residents have expressed frustration over both the occupation and the lack of sustainable solutions.

One Pretoria North resident, Maria Kekana, said the repeated removals feel like a temporary band-aid over a very deep problem.

“We appreciate that the park has been cleared because it wasn’t safe anymore. But the people who were sleeping there are part of our community too.

“They need help, not just policing. Until the metro provides proper shelters or support, they will keep coming back.”

Kekana’s concerns reflect a growing sentiment among community members who feel that enforcement alone is insufficient.

Meyer agreed that there must be a proactive approach in addressing this issue.

“We are doing what we can at ward level, reporting, cleaning, and ensuring safety. But without more shelters and long-term systems to support vulnerable individuals, the cycle continues. We cannot police homelessness away.”

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