Joburg mayor Dada Morero decried the high levels of homelessness within the city saying it was out of the ordinary.
Morero recently expressed his remarks in passing at a press briefing in Braamfontein while addressing the relocation of his office to Usindiso building after the decision to close the Metro Centre.
Morero pointed out that the city’s properties are often vandalised as displaced individuals sleep, drink, and smoke in these places.
“Homelessness is a big problem affecting Johannesburg, we are probably the highest in the country with high numbers of homeless people,” he said.
City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane stated the metro’s Social Development Displaced Person Subunit has been rendering services to about 20 000 homeless people within the city since 2022.
Modingoane clarified that local government has been actively involved since 2007 in addressing the extremity of homelessness.
He said city council approved a policy in 2008 which would address street children.
However, an impact assessment in 2009 discovered there were more displaced adults than children.
“As a result in March 2010, a policy on the assistance and management of people living and working on the streets was approved by council,” said Modingoane.
Another policy on homelessness was approved by council on September 30 after it reviewed an existing policy in 2021 to improve the needs of those displaced.
The metro places homeless people who are drug addicts in rehabilitation centres for assistance, among other interventions.
Modingoane explained medical assessments are performed on patients after admitting to the drugs they are addicted to.
“Beneficiaries are enrolled in a substance abuse preparatory support group, where a social work psycho-social report will be compiled in preparation for inpatient treatment placement,” he said.
The families of beneficiaries are involved throughout the six week programme.
The patient is placed on an after care programme or in a halfway house, depending on the extent of the addiction after completion.
While the metro provides psychological support for the homeless to reintegrate into society, it also identifies hotspot areas invaded by them.
“This intervention assists the department to make communities aware of the plight of homeless persons, and the role they can play in addressing the plight,” said Modingoane.
He added that the municipality admits displaced persons into shelters owned by the city.
The city currently has two shelters operating for the homeless. However, the third one in Hillbrow was closed due to structural challenges.
Modingoane said the fourth shelter in Devland/Freedom Park is under construction, which has reached a 50% completion.
The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) is spearheading the project on behalf of the city’s Social Development ministry.
The new shelter will house 80 females and 120 males, with 200 beds.
“There are more males on the streets than females. Many females are not seen due to joining the commercial sex work trade as they become homeless. They have pimps for protection and exploitation,” said Modingoane.
JDA CEO Themba Mathibe indicated the first-floor slab has been successfully cast.
“Construction teams are now actively working on decking for the second-floor slab,” he said.
The project has also created short-term employment opportunities for locals, with eight subcontractors and four labourers appointed.
“The use of labour-intensive methods ensures that the project also uplifts local, unskilled, and semi-skilled workers by offering them hands-on experience and employment,” he said.
Mathibe said the JDA is committed to complete the project on time and with high standards.
The Star
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