The ANC in the Western Cape has slammed the City of Cape Town for fining homeless people.
This after Law Enforcement officers fined homeless mense between R300 and R1500 this week.
ANC Provincial Secretary, Faiez Jacobs, has condemned the actions, saying: “We are appalled and disgusted by the City of Cape Town’s war on the homeless, a merciless and heartless onslaught that has seen some of those living on the streets fined for offences such as obstructing pedestrians on sidewalks.
“We demand that the City stops this cruel, inhuman enforcement of its by-laws immediately, as well as that it shows more compassion by making more shelters available to the homeless,” Jacobs says.
But City Safety boss, JP Smith, and Mayco Member for Community Services and Health, Zahid Badroodien, say everyone is obliged to comply with the law.
Faiez Jacobs says the ANC is appalled and disgusted by the City of Cape Town’s war on the homeless.
According to the law, starting a fire in a public space risks a fine of up to R1500, while blocking sidewalks with a car or any other object can get you a R300 fine.
Sleeping in a stationary vehicle is also illegal.
“This is tantamount to criminalising homelessness,” Jacobs said.
Smith and Badroodien stated the fines were set by the Department of Justice, not the City.
“It is important to note that this by-law was promulgated in 2007, so it is not new. When it was drafted, we compared it with the legislation in other municipalities and purposefully made our by-laws more humane and more considerate than those in other major metropolitan areas.”
Smith said the City has made available almost R700 000 to provide aid to NGOs assisting street people in winter.