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TUESDAY 26 May 2020 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za
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People’s Post
2 Woes of wearing protective masks
Homeless people express their need for shelter during a demonstration on Saturday 16 May. PHOTOS: MUIZENBERG MID FACEBOOK
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MUIZENBERG
Homeless speak out RACINE EDWARDES RACINE.EDWARDES@MEDIA24.COM
@RAEEDWARDES
O
n Saturday 16 May and 23 May, homeless people who live in Muizenberg held demonstrations to raise awareness of their struggles. The return of homeless people to Muizenberg – after the move to level four on Friday 1 May and the closure of the Strandfontein temporary facility for the homeless on Wednesday 20 May – is a controversial topic. From day one of level four, the homeless began to return to Muizenberg. And while some returned to their usual spots, many decided to make camp at Muizenberg Park. A resident whose home is in the line of sight of the park says there are many issues to this. “They are in an area where there is sensitive and protected vegetation – overnight sleeping is not allowed in this area at all. There are no ablutions, so they just do their thing in the park. “Some of these people are known violent criminals released from prison, and gangsters and drug dealers, which really is terrible for our safety as a community. And it is a heritage zone,” a resident wrote in a letter to Aimee Kuhl,
councillor for ward 62. The resident says the situation worsened in the days leading up to the closure of the Strandfontein facility, with homeless people lighting fires in the dry fynbos at Muizenberg park, jeopardising the unique ecosystem. The Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) has expressed its frustration at the escalating situation. “The MID board has worked tirelessly for a proactive solution to be set in place before the homeless returned to the streets from Strandfontein to ensure that shelter and
food could be provided and so that the very situation we now face could be avoided,” the MID wrote in a Facebook post. With homeless shelters filled to capacity, Peter Corbett, chair of the MID, told People’s Post they are attempting to pressure the council to provide a shelter as a long-term solution, “but time will tell whether we will be successful”. Kuhl confirms that she is in talks with the MID and the City of Cape Town on the matter. “The Muizenberg area is earmarked for phase three of what the City has suggested to create a safe
space, but this requires capital budget and can’t happen overnight. “And I know the relevant departments who have to be involved are scouting the various areas within Muizenberg for a suitable place,” she says. She adds that she understands the concerns of residents and other community organisations, but notes that the public should remember that “moving expenditure around isn’t an easy process and the City has to follow exact procedures” before the project can get off the ground.
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"Facts, not fear"
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With homeless people being encouraged to get off the streets during the lockdown, to curb the spread of Covid-19, they can’t help but wonder where to go.
Homeless people in Muizenberg are in need of basic services such as ablution facilities.
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