620 homeless people placed at temporary shelters around the province
The MEC for social development has urged the destitute people at the temporary shelter to refrain from selling the blankets that have been provided by the department.
KINROSS – Homeless citizens in this remote town have been sternly warned not to sell donated blankets, but keep them for their warmth this winter.
This transpired on Tuesday when MEC for Social Development, Thandi Shongwe paid a courtesy call at the Pat Njokwane Shelter, previously known as the Kinross Golf Club.
This is a shelter for the homeless where the Department of Social Development had housed the homeless people since the dawn of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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In her address to them, Shongwe emphasised the fact that they need to be re-integrated with their families, whilst others who were on drugs whilst living in the streets, need to start a rehabilitation process.
Shongwe said: “As a department, we will start with programmes aimed at assisting homeless people to reunite with their families. Those who need to be placed in our treatment centres, will be placed be allocated so. We will also start with the a process of re-applying for identity documents so that they will be able to apply for the social relief grant from SASSA.
“We will also engage with other stakeholders to see how we assist them with practical skills so that they can be able to look for job opportunities beyond the nationwide lockdown,” said Shongwe.
She urged the destitute people at the temporary shelter to refrain from selling the blankets that have been provided by the department.
“It is unfortunate that the department has provided the homeless people with blankets and it is now alleged that they have sold those blankets. It is also confusing that the same blankets that they sold, were meant to keep them warm and comfortable during this winter season,” concluded Shongwe.
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The provincial Department of Social Development has since the nationwide lockdown, placed more than 620 homeless people at temporary shelters around the province. They provide them with meals, while the department of health provides them with regular check ups and medication.
Pat Njokwane temporary shelter currently accommodates 80 homeless people. Some have been rehabilitated to a point they see the need to be reunited with their families, whilst others are undergoing drugs rehabilitation.
