The ANC in the Western Cape on Wednesday welcomed the decision by Human Rights Commissioner, Rev.Chris Nissen, to intervene in the crisis of Cape Town’s homeless people.
It follows reports of the City of Cape Town issuing fines to destitute people for offences such as obstructing pedestrians on sidewalks.
The provincial ANC had on Monday slammed the City as uncaring, accusing it of waging a “war” on the city’s homeless.
On Tuesday, Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said the City had noted the ongoing reports about the harassment of street people, particularly the issuing of fines by Law Enforcement officers and the attempts to paint the City as uncaring.
Human Rights Commissioner, Rev. Chris Nissen, to intervene in the crisis of Cape Town’s homeless people.
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He said the City had made available R69 9000 to provide aid in the form of blankets, mattresses, non-perishable food and toiletries to NGOs to increase their capacity to deal with the number of street people seeking shelter and assistance during the winter months.
On Wednesday ANC Western Cape secretary, Faiez Jacobs, said there were still many people staying on the streets, “although many of them have been moved already”.
“I interviewed ... about five to six families. I went to Chapel Street and, under the bridge, there were probably about 20 shacks erected in that area. I spoke to two or three of them. Many of them are saying they have been staying as long as 10 years and they have constantly been harassed, ” said Jacobs.
He called on the City to take the homeless into account when it comes to the consideration of housing solutions.