Focus on plight of the homeless

Homeless shelters have become a place of hope for the displaced and marginalised, writes

Phetoho Maja

There is a lot of unverified information circulating on social media on pregnancy, and mothers risk using such information. We give them verified information and provide safe spaces where they get support. In our classes we talk about issues that affect mothers, such as dealing with stress as a pregnant woman, bonding with an unborn baby and savings for the future,” she says.

Makaza adds that through their partnership with Himalaya Wellness, all mothers attending classes at Balfour mall will receive a hamper from Himalaya as well as a Flourish branded bag.

A Johannesburg mother of two, Nomsa Qangase says she gained a lot of support by attending the classes and she is a better mother. “Since I had a child seven years ago I thought I knew everything about motherhood but realised there was much I did not know, and the support from other mothers was special. I think all mothers deserve this opportunity.”

Balfour mall marketing manager Kurt Keshwar says this partnership provides safe spaces for women. “It also allows them to open up on gender-based violence and mental health,” Keshwar adds.

The arrival of the Corona virus pandemic came as a rescue, according to Samuel Monyemore, 35, from Benoni in Ekurhuleni. He was once a homeless person among many vulnerable groups which had to be protected when the State of Disaster was proclaimed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March 2020. Despite many challenges that left him vulnerable and having to fend on the streets, Monyemore says he is now one of the contributors to the economy through his farming project that he started with the help of the Manger Care Centre, a shelter for homeless people in Benoni, funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development.

Monyemore is one of over 3 000 homeless beneficiaries who received support from the Gauteng government as a response to the disaster, during lockdown regulations.

This has given the Gauteng Department of Social Development a green light as part of its mandate of caring for the most vulnerable in society.

The department, in collaboration with municipalities, various NPOs and churches, were tasked to place people living on the streets in temporary shelters, and provide services such as meals, treatment for substance abuse, medical screening, counselling, and some were reunified with their families.

According to a research done by the Cape Metropolitan Council in 2017, homeless people are among the most vulnerable in society, and live under stressful conditions with challenges such as illiteracy, hunger, drug abuse, malnutrition, sexual exploitation and crime.

The Bill of Rights, as a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa, enshrines the rights of all people in our country, and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. Therefore, as South Africa observes Youth Month, it is indeed important to highlight and note some of the key achievements from young people who remained mindful of the challenges around them, but were geared up to overcome them. Monyemore is now a proud owner of hectares of land, and his farming project has two green houses, which provide employment and offers consultation to prospective farmers, thanks to stakeholders such as the Gauteng Department of Social Development and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

However, it remains a cause for concern looking at the growing number of people living on the streets. People of all ages are affected, and some are more vulnerable to abuse. Therefore, it is necessary that a concerted effort be made to deal with homelessness, to ensure that homeless people do not return to life on the streets but are offered a lifeline and integrated support to live like normal citizens.

Gauteng Social Development acknowledges that ending homelessness can only be attained through a multi-stakeholder approach, in which communities, civil society organisations, government agencies and private sector, work together to implement systematic responses that will help prevent recurring homelessness.

It therefore calls on all stakeholders and role players to band together in curbing homelessness.

Phetoho Maja, is a senior communication officer, media liaison at the Gauteng Department of Social Development.

Life jail for girlfriend’s killer

Johannesburg - On Tuesday the Gauteng high court sentenced a man to life in prison for murdering his girlfriend, who was a legal practitioner.

The man, Kabelo Rasepae stabbed Olive Motsomi multiple times at her Krugersdorp home in January 2020 then fled to North West, where he was arrested.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said Rasepae took Motsomi to Robinson hospital in Randfontein and told the staff that they had been victims of a house robbery.

“He left her there saying he was rushing back home to attend to their children. Motsomi died later that day. He then fled to Rustenburg, where police found him with Motsomi’s vehicle in January 2020. The investigating officer followed up on information from Motsomi’s family, that the couple did not have any children, and that Rasepae called the deceased’s brother on Christmas in 2019, informing him that they had ended their relationship,” she said. A statement from state Advocate Patric Mkhari indicated that Motsomi’s mother was traumatised as she could not accept that her child was killed in such a brutal way.