Residents urged to not forget homeless in CBD

An NGO in the inner city of Pretoria has urged residents not to forget about the homeless as the “dry season” hits.

NGO Kopano Manyano God the Founder spokesperson Tebogo Mpufane said most of the organisations assisting homeless people in Pretoria were closing their doors on 13 December.

“Most of the drinking holes and eateries the homeless frequent throughout the year are shutting their doors.”

He said although this was a festive season for many residents in Pretoria, it was also a dry season for many homeless men, women and children.

“Our plea is for everyone – residents, churches and even stores – who have homeless people frequenting their neighborhoods or communities to assist these people with necessities,” said Mpufane.

Mpufane said they were also available as an NGO to assist residents to identify areas homeless people frequented in Pretoria.

READ MORE: CBD NGO feeds hundreds of homeless residents

He also urged residents to check for bread and other food to donate that is close to expiring, before they leave for vacation.

Mpufane said residents could donate essentials such as mealie meal, rice, soya and canned food.

He also urged residents to raid their closets for any old clothes they no longer needed to gift to the homeless community.

“Small items such as clothes, mean the most to them.”

He said people also needed to be reminded that “we were in a celebratory season”.

This comes after Kopano Manyano fed 210 Homeless members in Church Square in the inner CBD on rainy Sunday afternoon.

The homeless community and recovering substance abusers celebrated the festive season with a lunch.

Mpufane said feeding the homeless, especially during such wet and cold times, restored their hope.

Mpufane said mealtime allowed the NGO time to interact with the homeless and assist drug users.

READ MORE: East residents by river bank left homeless

He said as an NGO, they had also noticed that a lot of the homeless were on medication for various sicknesses, however, they did not have food.

“Some are on flu medication; others TB medication and need energy for such treatments.”

Mpufane said the food was vital to people taking medication as it allowed the medicine to work better with fewer side effects.

Kopano had also noticed that street homelessness had decreased in the inner city since taxi drivers attacked the homeless.

“We have noticed that the homeless have found refuge at the Malgesiedek shelter in Gezina.”

This after a taxi driver was shot dead, leading to a flare-up of violent protest and disruption of traffic earlier this year.