Let's face facts.
Cape Town has a huge homeless problem, and it seems it’s only getting worse.
There are more and more beggars on streets, at traffic lights, at your front door.
There are more people sleeping on the streets, under bridges, at building entrances and bus shelters.
More and more hokkies and informal settlements are going up.
There are more “car guards” on the streets.
They’re everywhere.
Yes, times are vrek hard.
Apart from our economic woes, people are falling on hard times because of job scarcity, drug and alcohol abuse.
A lot of street people are uneducated rural mense who have come to the city to try and skarrel a livelihood.
And yes, because of poverty and desperation, many turn to crime.
As much as we would like to ignore the problem, or wish these people away, this IS the reality we live with in this country.
The question is: how do we react to this problem?
Here’s what NOT to do...
Sea Point councillor Shayne Ramsay wrote the following on Facebook: “If they [homeless] choose to live in a society like Sea Point, then they have to behave in a manner which is acceptable to the other residents.
“... Our garbage bins are treated as buffet tables. Please don’t put your bins out at night before collection.”
She said while cops couldn’t control vagrants, councillors could change City by-laws to get rid of bergies.
And Ramsay tried to plan a protest march to get residents behind her campaign.
Now, no home owner or ratepayer likes to have their rommelblikke rummaged through.
And everyone would agree they prefer to live in an area with fewer homeless people.
But it was the insensitivity of her message that sparked public outrage.
She seemed blissfully ignorant of the fact that many homeless people have never had the luxury of feasting from a “buffet table”.
And that the contents of her dirtbin, the stuff that she throws away, actually represent a meal for others.
She seems unable to appreciate the fact that while she comes from a privileged upbringing and education, there are millions of South Africans who do not.
No one is expecting Ramsay to solve the world’s poverty problems.
But as a ward councillor, an elected City official, the least she can do is show that she cares about society’s less fortunate.
Mayor Patricia de Lille was right to lay down the law and call for an investigation into Ramsay’s remarks.
“The DA-run City of Cape Town is a caring city and offers a programme to help the homeless,” said De Lille.
Besides, it’s Christmas soon - a time for giving, sharing, spreading joy.
So Madam Mayor, give Capetonians some joy this festive season and put a termination letter in that Grinch’s stocking.