Cape Town - The City of Cape Town says it is happy that several public areas in the CBD can finally be made available for public use. So says Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, as over 160 people have been relocated from the streets to dignified transitional Safe Space shelters.
Hill-Lewis said those at Safe Spaces will have access to medical care, social workers, substance abuse treatment, family reunification services, Expanded Public Works Programme work, and personal development programmes.
“We are also glad to finally restore these various public places for public use in the Cape Town CBD after lengthy court processes and social developmental engagements with people living on the streets,” he said.
About 140 people accepted the invitation to stay at the brand-new, 300-bed Ebenezer Safe Space 3, with 26 moving to Culemborg Safe Space 2.
The City has also assisted a few individuals in going back to their home towns and connected a family of three with social workers in the province to arrange for their placement.
Others have departed from CBD locations on their own.
Hill-Lewis said: “No person has the right to indefinitely refuse all offers of social support while reserving a public place as exclusively theirs. Our public places must be open to all.”
The relocation of hundreds of street people follows the implementation of the Western Cape High Court’s final eviction order for unlawful occupation sites in the Cape Town CBD.
The unlawful occupation hot spots were identified along Buitengracht Street, FW de Klerk Boulevard, Foregate Square taxi rank and Foreshore, Helen Suzman Boulevard, Strand Street, Foreshore/N1, Virginia Avenue and the Mill Street Bridge in the city.
The City pointed the Cape Argus to a recent announcement regarding the progress of the court order procedures that are finished for several Cape Town CBD locations. However, the City’s statements have since raised concerns among various stakeholders, including the Civil Society Unmuted Coalition in South Africa (CSUCSA).
CSUCSA has listed several concerns, including a lack of consultation with affected communities and relevant stakeholders during the decision-making process.
The coalition has highlighted an inadequate provision of services and support within the Safe Spaces along with potential violations of human rights, particularly the right to dignity and freedom of movement.
CSUCSA also claimed there was a failure to address systemic issues such as poverty, unemployment, and a lack of affordable housing which contributed significantly to homelessness.
Ndodana Hadebe, the provincial chairperson of CSUCSA, said while they acknowledge the problems cities confront in combating homelessness, this strategy may not sufficiently address the underlying causes of the problem and may further marginalise disadvantaged populations.
Some of the homeless people experienced conflicting feelings as they relocated to a City Safe Space last week.
CSUCSA urged the City to engage in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders, including homeless individuals and civil society organisations, to develop humane and sustainable solutions to address homelessness.
“We recommend exploring alternative models that prioritise prevention, early intervention, and the provision of adequate support systems.
“These should be tailored to individual needs and circumstances while ensuring respect for human rights and dignity,” Hadebe said.
Meanwhile, a standing interdict was included in the order, preventing further unlawful occupation of these areas.
Hadebe said the CSUCSA remained committed to working collaboratively with various partners towards eradicating homelessness in South Africa.
“We call upon all stakeholders, including government institutions at all levels, private sector entities, and civil society organisations, to intensify efforts aimed at addressing this societal challenge,” he said.
sations, to develop humane and sustainable solutions to address homelessness.
byron.lukas@inl.co.za
Cape Argus