LAHEE Park in Pinetown is one of the 11 temporary shelters provided by the eThekwini Municipality for homeless people.
While this was good news for the NGOs who feed the destitute around Pinetown, one of their concerns was that the security is not strict as people come and go as they please.
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The municipality has put up two tents and there are municipal workers who are capturing the details of people on site.
There is a clinic and social workers who liaise with the homeless to find out about their background and what led them to the streets.
One of the homeless, Bongani Mkhize (38), said he left his home in Estcourt four years ago to look for a job.
“I left my home due to family related problems, I just said to myself if I want peace I should just leave,” he said.
He said he has been staying on the streets ever since.
“I do get piece-jobs from time to time. I am happy they have opened these shelters for us as we are taken care of,” said Mkhize.
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Another man said he has just arrived at the shelter and is not willing to stay for long.
“I do have a shack that I stay in but things are tough, there are no jobs, I am just here for the food,” he said.
Stephanie Amod from El Gibbor Kitchen 3610 said more people are being brought into this shelter. “There are between 100 and 150 people now. The police are doing their best to remove the homeless from the streets as they bring them in if they find them roaming in the streets,” said Amod.
In a statement the eThekwini Municipality said:
The municipality has made a provision of temporary shelters for homeless people and those living on the streets. The Municipality identified sites to be used as accommodation after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the 21 days national lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).
At this stage, the Municipality has made a provision of 11 temporary shelters that accommodates more than 2000 homeless people. Additional sites are being sought due to increasing numbers of homeless as they are being identified.
Those accommodated in the temporary shelters receive three meals a day through generous donations from the public.
In compliance with hygienic measures, there’s on going sanitization of the shelters and health screening is being provided by medical teams.
The Municipality humbly appeals for donations in a form of non-perishable food products, bottled water and hygiene packs.
Donations can be dropped at Disaster Management and Emergency Control Unit, 3 Jelf Taylor Crescent, Durban, 4000
Contact number (during office hours) 061 495 2066. 031 361 0000 (after hours).
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