Using a blanket to shield herself from the searing sun, Geraldine November sits under a makeshift tent with all her belongings on the pavement, just a stone’s throw away from Grassy Park Police Station.
“I move around a lot,” she tells People’s Post.
November says she has been homeless for seven years, but hopes to leave the streets someday.
“I was married to a guy in Grassy Park. He passed away after that. I came to the streets because there was no other way out.”
She adds while she has addiction issues, it was not the reason she ended up homeless.
“I’m trying to get into a rehab. We are working one on one with social development. It is difficult to get into a place.”
Two weeks ago, a community safety meeting was held in Grassy Park to address the influx of street people.
According to Ward 65 councillor Donovan Nelson, the current spaces occupied by homeless people in Grassy Park have become drug hotspots.
“Currently, the spaces where (street people) live have become drug hotspots and grounds for criminal activity. This has led to many residents complaining and raising the matter with councillors.”
He further explained that the community did not want to see the issue escalate and that action needed to be taken.
“There are several measures being taken from the City’s side and social development to ensure they (the homeless) have access to accommodation, a reintegration programme. The accommodation has been offered to them, but they have declined.
“There are 36 people classified as homeless; we have spoken to each of them and offered them a space to stay, rehab and re-integrate with family.
“The next step for us is to apply for an eviction order.”
Donovan added that the core of the issues were illegal guns and drugs.
According to November, crime is due to “certain people” but not everyone on the streets.
“It’s certain people who do bring the crime, but not everyone, some of us have good hearts and good mindsets. Not everyone of us is about crime or drug addiction. If we have the means to smoke, we will smoke but we won’t smoke here in the vicinity, we will go somewhere like in a park where there are no people around. It is very unfair to paint everyone with the same brush.”
In the evenings, November and her boyfriend sleep across the road, in Fisherman’s Lane, in front of a shop.
Kashief Bester says he has been homeless for 17 years and living on the streets of Grassy Park for nine.
When asked how he ended up homeless, he explains: “Wrong decision making. I fell for a girl and my parents are Muslim. You can’t live with a girl unless you are married so it was sinful.”
He hopes to sort himself out soon to find a place to stay.
“You don’t always really feel safe on the street, only when you are old and cold. Life is quick, today I am speaking to you and tomorrow I don’t wake up. You can expect anything.”
Two weeks ago, Bester claims someone tried to set his tent alight.
“You can expect anything on the streets. Two weeks ago, I was lying in my tent and I got these burns on my hand. Someone set my tent alight and intentionally tried to burn me; you can expect anything on the streets.”
A large wound is visible on his left hand.
“Most of us living on the streets are jack of all trades. By trade I am a fitter and turner, I did that for 12 years but then due to my leg injury while ship repairing I couldn’t.
“For food, some of the group members work as car guards, wash taxis or work in a taxi. Sometimes people hand out food and other times; we also help each other. If one doesn’t have there is always someone who has food, then we share.”
Hamza Funani says they are all like brothers and sisters.
“Crimes do increase at certain points but not here. In other places, they have been stabbings and shootings and drug dealings, but not here by us.”
Funani, who claims to be a member of the 27s prison gang, says his decision to live on the streets was a matter of life or death.
“I was into gangsterism, I got shot 14 times and I had five bullets in my back.”
He decided to ensure the safety of his family too, he explains.
“I made a choice, it was either life or death. I am a prison gang member, I am a 27. I was in Pollsmoor prison for three years, not for serious crimes, but for abalone poaching.
“I had to get away from my house because the gangsters were coming after me every time.”
If given the opportunity he would love to get off the streets, he adds.
“I want to work. I want to be off the streets.”
