Gauteng government engage homeless shelter on its exit strategy

The Department of Social Development has been providing homeless people with meals, dignity packs and sanitisers during their stay at the Benoni Town Hall

September 17, 2020

Ntombikayise Sibeko 1 minute read

With Gauteng Social Development MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi (second from left), who paid homeless people a visit at the Benoni Town Hall on September 9, is, from left, Nomadlozi Nkosi, MMC for Health and Social Development, Martin Machaba, Marelette and André Hegneke. The homeless people from Boksburg, Benoni and Germiston who have been accommodated at the Benoni Town Hall since April 2. Holding the flowers that one of the homeless people, Martin Machaba (third from left) bought for MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi (second from left) is MMC for Health and Social Development Nomadlozi Nkosi and Mamohale Moloi from the office of the premier. Addressing the 39 beneficiaries is the Gauteng Social Development MEC, Nomathemba Mokgethi. One of the homeless people who has been living at the Benoni Town Hall since April 2 is Marelette Hegneke. Checking the files of the homeless people which contains medical and background information is MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi, who visited the homeless shelter in Benoni Town Hall on September 9.

Homeless people from Boksburg who were taken to the Benoni Town Hall on April 2, as part of the government’s initiative to curb the spread of the coronavirius, got a surprise visit from the Gauteng Social Development MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi and MMC for Ekurhuleni Health and Social Development Nomadlozi Nkosi on September 9.

The aim of the MEC’s visit was to observe the state of service and support they received since their placement at the shelter as well as coming up with a strategy to ensure that beneficiaries receive sustainable options to survive beyond the national lockdown.

For the past five month’s they have been living there with many other homeless people from Benoni and Germiston.

During the walkabout around the building, the beneficiary’s files were checked if they had the necessary medical information and their background history.

The MEC highlighted that out of the 400 destitute people that they welcomed in April, only 39 remained at the shelter.

According to Mokgethi, others were united with their families while others voluntarily left the shelter.

“We are working with various government departments such as home affairs to ensure those who require birth certificates and identity documents receive such items.The Department of Health will continue assisting with medical needs, and NPOs will provide skills and job readiness programmes,” Mokgethi said.

She said the homeless people will in the meantime be kept at the Benoni Town Hall until they find another place where it will allow beneficiaries to go to work and be sustainably independent.

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Thanking the MEC on behalf of the homeless people, Marelette Hegneke said since day one they were welcomed with open arms and the shelter has turned into their homes far from home.

Also Read: Exit plan in progress for mentally ill, elderly homeless at town hall

Also Read: Boksburg homeless people finally taken to Benoni shelter