People's Post False Bay - 7 July 2020

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FALSE BAY

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TUESDAY 7 July 2020 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za

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The homeless of Muizenberg were moved to the Strandfontein temporary shelter during level five. Since their return, they have faced many challenges. PHOTO: AIMEE KUHL

ZANDVLEI CARAVAN PARK

It’s a ‘no’ to homeless RACINE EDWARDES RACINE.EDWARDES@MEDIA24.COM @RAEEDWARDES

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uggestions made to open the Zandvlei Caravan Park to the homeless have been ruled out, as the City of Cape Town says there is no need for it. People’s Post previously reported on homeless people in Muizenberg who had begun to make camp in Muizenberg Park after the closure of the Strandfontein temporary emergency shelter during lockdown level five (“Homeless speak out”, 26 May). A concerned Muizenberg resident Saddick Johaadien told People’s Post that it had been suggested these people be accommodated at the Zandvlei Caravan Park.

“There are facilities already there so the council would not need to spend large amounts of money installing toilets, showers and electricity. It is a more immediate solution. The use of the caravan park has been suggested to the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) and council, but there was no response,” he wrote. Following a site visit and meeting with the MID as well as a number of residents, the Mayco member for community services and health, Zahid Badroodien, said a number of things were achieved. According to Badroodien, six men were placed in a rehabilitation centre and nine women were moved to a church facility till the end of July. He says preparations are continuing to place the 15 people at Oasis when their time

lapses at the respective facilities. Oasis offers skills development and partners with stakeholders who can assist to get the homeless off the street. The MID has agreed to sponsor ID’s for the 15, some of which require South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) assistance. The City’s Street People Unit will manage this process. Badroodien adds: “It is clear through our assessment that the clients are being sustained financially and receive food parcels and tents from residents in the Muizenberg area. The MID has, therefore, agreed to place the City of Cape Town’s Give Dignity Pamphlet in their newsletter to educate the community on the negative implications of giving irresponsibly and where to donate responsibly.

“It should be noted that there are clients at the said location that are refusing our social assistance due to the illicit drug trading and car guarding in Muizenberg.” The City says it can’t force street people to accept assistance. Badroodien says, considering the number of shelters with available space and the number of street people who prefer to remain on the streets, there is no reason to open the caravan park to them. He appeals to residents to work with shelters to channel their charity. “Instead of giving on the streets where our homeless people then refuse the more sustainable forms of social assistance,” he says. V For more information on Oasis, visit http://oasisplace.co.za/.


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