Displaced people welcome new shelter

WINDSOR WEST – Displaced people face daily challenges living on the streets, but for a meagre R8 per night they will now be able to sleep at a shelter that will be opened by the City of Johannesburg‘s Department of Social Development in Windsor West.

Charles Chauke (29) has been sleeping outside the Spar in Windsor East for the past nine months after moving from his hometown in Limpopo.

He explained that he was renting a room in Cosmo City until he could no longer afford it and ended up being an informal recycler.

“I used to be a farmer’s assistant back home but I have been unable to find a job since moving to Johannesburg. I have no choice but to live on the street,” Chauke said.

With an income of between R70 and R80 a week, Chauke said the shelter was a good idea because it would give him a place to sleep and take a bath every day.

“R8 is not a lot of money and I will make sure that I am able to pay it even if it means begging at the robot,” he added.

He said he needed help with his drug addiction and would welcome any assistance.

You can read: Windsor West shelter set to open soon

Another displaced person, Koketso Tshabalala, who hails from Soweto, said his parents had died when he was younger and he and his two siblings had to fend for themselves.

“Even though I had family members they were not interested in helping us and that is why I decided to leave Soweto and fend for myself,” Tshabalala said.

He also has a drug addiction and said he would welcome any help that he could get for his addiction.

“I think that the shelter is a good idea and I really need help to stop smoking drugs. Maybe I will be drug-free in the future,” he said. He added that he had attempted to look for work, but residents did not trust him and hence he could not do much for himself.

Details: 082 467 9578.

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