Homeless gravely affected by Covid-19 lockdown

This will become their new reality until they are placed in shelters.

March 30, 2020

Ntombikayise Sibeko 2 minutes read

Curtis Pritchard, who has been living on the streets of Boksburg for the past four years, said he doesn't know where he will get food because he relied on the food he normally gets from the Boksburg North feeding scheme. With him is the founder of the Boksburg North feeding scheme, Cobus van der Merwe.

Hundreds of homeless people in Boksburg who depend on feeding schemes to survive will go weeks without having food until the 21-day countrywide lockdown is over.

This will remain their new reality until they are placed in shelters.

President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a 21-day nationwide lockdown amid the rapid Covid-19 infection as part of the governments initiative to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

During the 21 days, all businesses will be closed, except for pharmacies, laboratories, banks, supermarkets and petrol stations.

Ramaphosa also indicated that temporary shelters that meet the necessary hygiene standards will be identified for homeless people during the 21 days.

Meanwhile, many soup kitchens and feeding schemes in Boksburg have already halted their services since the president’s announcement.

With Nicolus Klass and Lena van Wyk, some of the elderly people who collected food parcels from the Boksburg North feeding scheme on March 26, is Cobus van der Merwe.

The Boksburg North feeding scheme, which plays a pivotal role in feeding about 120 homeless people in Boksburg, fed about 100 people for the last time before the lockdown on March 26.

For the past six years, they have been conducting their feeding scheme every Friday in Cason Road, but due to the lockdown, they had to carry it out on Thursday.

According to Cobus van der Merwe, founder of the Boksburg North feeding scheme, he had to put together food parcels for the homeless so they have food for at least two weeks.

“I tried to speak to local authorities to allow me to continue to operate during the lockdown, but they said that won’t be possible. I even phoned the Department of Social Development inquiring about the shelters and coronavirus education programmes for the homeless, but they weren’t forthcoming.

Van der Merwe said since news broke out about the coronavirus, he took it upon himself to educate the homeless about the infection. He said the homeless had no knowledge about the virus or the lockdown.

“It pains me that I won’t be able to feed my children because my dedicated team and I won’t be able to get out of our houses to come and serve them. I appeal to the municipality to allow my team and I to continue handing out food to the homeless because it’s their lifeline,” said van der Merwe.

Brenda Makubalo from Blue Sky said it’s going to be hard for her and her three children to survive because they rely on the food she gets every Friday.

Brenda Makubalo, who lives in Blue Sky, said although she has a place to stay, she doesn’t know how she and her three children will survive during the lockdown.

Curtis Pritchard, who has been living on the streets for four years, said: “I don’t know where I’ll get food in the coming weeks, but I suppose God will make a way.”

Another affected feeding scheme is the New Beginnings Food Distribution, which feeds 25 000 people weekly through feeding schemes and household assistance.

The founder of New Beginnings Care Centre, Past Stephen du Plessis, said: “We have also been forced to stop our operations, but we don’t turn people away who come to our gates and ask for food. We will continue to help where we can.”

According to Social Development Acting MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, government will utilize existing social infrastructure to develop solutions that will address homelessness. A total of 30 schools which have hostel facilities have been identified in Gauteng.

Laerskool Elspark will be used to accommodate homeless people from Boksburg, Kempton Park, Benoni, Germiston, Alberton, Brakpan and Springs.