‘We did not deny Tshwane any millions’ – Gauteng province
“Out of the 42 shelters, Tshwane Region accounts for the highest number which is 29 temporary shelters activated during Covid-19 and the total allocated budget was R26 920 038, which is approximately 30% of the R88 000 000.”
The Gauteng Department of Social Development has denied withholding millions of rands meant for the upgrading of shelters from the Tshwane metro.
Gauteng DSD spokesperson Feziwe Ndwayana said the allocation from treasury did not make provision for infrastructure refurbishments.
Therefore, the department was guided by the provincial treasury with regards to compliance with the Public Finance Management Act, “we did not deny the City of Tshwane infrastructure spending”.
Ndwayana said the Tshwane metro requested more than R20-million for assistance to renovate its unused buildings to be converted into permanent homeless shelters including No. 2 Struben, 472 Pretorius Street, De Villiers Hof Building 521 10th Avenue, Gezina, Matsepa Primary School in Mabopane and ML Msezane Middle School in Mamelodi.
“In total, the budget requested was R23,5-million.”
Ndwayana said the DSD had overall, funded 18 NPOs in the province to provide services to 42 shelters with its R88-million received from treasury in the 2020/21 budget.
“Out of the 42 shelters, Tshwane region accounts for the highest number with 29 temporary shelters activated during Covid-19. The total allocated budget was R26,9-million, which is approximately 30% of the R88-million.”
She said the money was spent on psycho-social support services, park homes, nutritional meals, personnel costs, vehicles, equipment and other operational costs.
“With regards to infrastructure in Tshwane, the department allocated an overall R7,8-million to two shelters that have enough space to put up park homes, which Tshwane approved in terms of municipal requirements for buildings.”
Ndwayana said the Gauteng DSD assisted Tshwane with various matters regarding homelessness.
“To strengthen the partnership between provincial and local government, a provincial consultation meeting was held with all municipalities to provide priority needs for homelessness when the provincial treasury approved the R88-million funding.”
She said the metro was supported through psycho-social support services provided by social workers, referrals and linking homeless persons to different stakeholders, like substance abuse treatment centres, Department of Health, SASSA and the Department of Home Affairs.
Ndwayana said in the 2021/22 financial year, R83,9-million was projected to be spent by the department on homelessness in the province for personnel, psychosocial support services and operational costs.
With regard to the city-run shelter at No. 2 Struben Street, she said the DSD was aware of the conditions at the centre.
“The city submitted a plan for renovations but these plans were supposed to be implemented by Tshwane in the 20/21 financial year.”
According to Tshwane MMC for community and social development services Thabisile Vilakazi the Gauteng province government had denied the Tshwane metro R23,3-million.
“This was going to be used specifically to refurbish buildings that are owned by the city to accommodate space for 1 130 homeless people.”
Vilakazi said that the metro did not have enough budget to finance infrastructure for shelters.
READ MORE: Gauteng Province denies Tshwane metro R23.3million for funding
“We mainly focus on short-term interventions such as relief packages that include food, blankets, mattresses and hygiene packs.
“In terms of long-term interventions, we need the provincial government to come on board, as they are the ones who have the financial strength to make such interventions possible,” Vilakazi said.
The Tshwane metro had allocated R5-million to No. 2 Struben shelter upgrades in the 2019/20 financial year. However, the project could not take off due to the funds being re-allocated to Covid-19 projects.
Vilakazi said No. 2 Struben was highly complicated “as it has been hijacked by criminal elements”.
Chairperson of the shelters’ residents Solly Hadebe said there was a lack of care at the only city-run shelter.
He said Vilakazi had only been at the shelter twice.
“She has only been here to visit the place when she was appointed and again when an accident had occurred late at night on December 26.
“I remember how she asked us all about our problems and promised us to assist us in maintaining this place, through cleaning materials, since we were moving soon.
“She even promised women sanitary pads, however, there has been no word so far,” Hadebe said.
The shelter houses 435 people, including children and people with disabilities.
According to Hadebe, the numbers had increased along with criminality occurring at the shelter.
He alleged that criminals with guns, who targeted motorists and pedestrians on CBD streets, used the shelter as a hide-out.
He said the shelter was not ideal for children due to substance abusers and criminals there.
“We cannot say we are happy here. The situation is bad for us, we have been enduring the cold and we use mbaula [braziers] to keep warm,” Hadebe said.
He said many residents of No. 2 Struben shelter did not have blankets, mattresses and were either sleeping on the floor or even outside.
“Many people are sick or sneezing as the recent cold nights had become very bad.”
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