- Muizenberg residents and businesses have started an online petition against the proposed location of a homeless shelter on Sidmouth Road.
- They demand a thorough impact assessment and proper public participation, citing concerns about property values, safety, and the local economy.
- While some support the City’s efforts to provide more homeless shelters, others worry about the shelter’s impact on the community.
In an online petition begun on change.org, Muizenberg residents and businesses expressed their ‘strong objection’ to the proposed location of a homeless safe space in Sidmouth Road, Muizenberg.
Earlier this month, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced the City’s approval of funding for a new homeless shelter to serve the broader Muizenberg area with dignified transitional shelter and social interventions (“Homeless safe space on the cards” People’s Post 9 July).
The City plans to spend over R220 million in the next three years to expand and operate Safe Space shelters across the City.
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In the petition, residents urged the City to conduct a thorough impact assessment on property values, businesses, safety and traffic implications.
“We, the undersigned residents and property owners of Muizenberg, strongly object to the proposed establishment of a homeless shelter in the prime beach area of our community.”
Residents requested a “proper public participation” process.
“The decision to set up this shelter was made without proper consultation with local residents and stakeholders,” the petition read. “We demand a transparent public participation process. The presence of a homeless shelter in this prime location may negatively affect property values in the surrounding area.”
In the petition, which has climbed to more than 500 signatures, residents voiced their concern about the impact on the economy, if a safe space was opened so close to the beach.
“The Muizenberg beach area is crucial for tourism and local businesses, the proposed shelter location may deter visitors and impact the local economy.”
Safety, security
Other concerns and objections in the petition included safety and security concerns.
“Residents already pay for the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) to enhance the area’s safety and appeal. We also pay high levies for security services, which have significantly improved safety in the area.”
In a Subcouncil 19 meeting on Monday 15 July, MID chair Simon Roberts requested the proposed location be removed from the agenda.
“There has already been an outcry among the citizens and much talk about potential legal interdicts, negative social media and press campaigns, as well as a public petition,” he said at the time.
READ: Residents reject proposed site for homeless safe space in Muizenberg
“The proposed location is in the middle of our beachfront CBD and could severely impact tourism and businesses, undermining many years of urban renewal efforts by the MID, and the private and public sector,” he said.
Phinius Sebatsane, founder and CEO of the Rea Thusana Foundation a non-profit organisation (NPO) serving people experiencing homelessness in Muizenberg, said he supports the City’s agenda to build more spaces in Cape Town.
“There’s simply not enough space for the homeless elderly, couples and people with disabilities,” he said. “The homeless numbers are slowly growing because we live near a bleeding community of Capricorn and Vrygrond and that ends up bleeding into Muizenberg.”
Complex issue
Commenting on his work with street people, Sebatsane said the homeless need to be treated as individuals as everyone’s case is different.
“Our work is complex where an individual approach is needed because people have different needs,” he said. “They want to be helped as a community in the community and not be sent to a different area because some have been living on the streets of Muizenberg for 10 to 20 years.”
Referring to Sidmouth Road as the proposed site for a safe space, Sebatsane said businesses, residents and organisations need to work together.
“Sidmouth Road is a sensitive area and three things can change. For example, the design of the safe space has to look dignified and beautiful and not just be ugly-looking containers.
“Secondly, there has to be programmes to rehabilitate the homeless, it can’t just be a space to sleep. There must be a holistic programme where people can learn and heal.”
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Lastly, the space should possibly incorporate facilities such as a coffee shop so that it’s not only a shelter, he added.
“We want a safe space run by social workers and psychologists with a holistic approach to homelessness and U-turn has such a holistic programme,” said Sebatsane. “It is not that Muizenberg people don’t care, I think there’s a great opportunity for the community to be more integrated.”
A community meeting was called on Wednesday, 29 July to address the proposed safe space.
