Safe space for the homeless in Muizenberg was a hot topic at a public gathering hosted by the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) on Thursday 17 November.
The urgent meeting was called after the City of Cape Town agreed to make available a piece of land earmarked as a safe space for the homeless community in Muizenberg.
While many residents agreed that a safe space was required, they disagreed on the space allocation and not being informed of the process.
Richard Bolland, Social Development Director at the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) says after looking at various site options, the City agreed to a site at the corner of Atlantic Road in Muizenberg.
“The space at the corner of Atlantic Road and St Mark Road was offered to us by the City.
“This offer came two weeks ago and we organised pretty much the day after we received the offer, this public meeting to talk about safe spaces and the land that we have been offered.”
He added, however, that the MID had prematurely accepted the offer without liaising with residents in the area.
“We did prematurely accept the offer from the City because of the lengthy process we have been on.
“The next step is to go back to the City with a report on what occurred at this meeting, to take all the objections and comments from both sides to the City for them to make a decision on whether or not they will offer us an alternative space or for this specific site to remain as the only site on the table.”
Funding for the safe space he added will come from the MID as well as the City.
“The MID will put some funding towards it, the city will also put some funding towards the operations and then the NGOs who we proposed will run and operate, will also put their own budgets towards it.”
Bolland added that while the City was invited to attend the meeting, they declined.
“Unfortunately, we invited the City to represent themselves here to answer why they offered us only that site at St Marks Road and no other site.
“We identified dozens of sites for the city to consider for a safe space and the city came back and said they have considered all the options but this is the option they are giving us.”
He added that residents were not previously consulted because the MID was in the early stages of the process of securing a site.
Residents voiced their dissatisfaction with the proposed site as well as the lack of engagement from the MID.
“If you are going to help people off the street, first of all, use a space that is readily available, has plumbing and all those things.
“We should petition to the City that the parking lot especially if you are going to spend a lot of money is not good enough,” said one resident.
While another suggested: “Why not make the parking lot, paid parking and they can generate an income which can go towards funding the safe space?”
MID Chair Peter Corbett explained that the rejection of the proposed site could delay the already lengthy process.
“We have had lots of fruitful discussions but I want to end on a note of realism. About the question, would this be delayed? The answer is most certainly yes.
“We have already had a hint, that if we say no to this particular site, they (the city) will lose interest.
“We got to the top of the queue, first by nagging and secondly by dangling the fact that we had some funds. We have not made a decision to spend it.
“I, therefore, believe if the City is told to find something else, they would push it to the bottom of the tray.
He added that City officials move “at the speed of a snail” and there is a lot of reluctance, every department protects its piece of land or building with great passion.
“The process to get to this piece of land took around 11 months and I think if you start looking at buildings, it is unlikely.”
Corbett admitting to “dangling funds of R2 million” towards the safe space angered residents.
“You had no right to do that, you just said that you dangled it. It is R2 million.”
Phinius Sebatsane, Managing director at Rea Thusana Foundation, who has been working with the homeless community in Muizenberg, said they aimed to specifically get women and children off the streets.
“I come from a village in Limpopo where I never met a homeless person in my life.
“Where I come from we take care of each other.
“When I came to Cape Town for the first time and saw a homeless person and someone told me it was normal, a part of me felt that it should never be normal.
“And a part of me felt that I needed to do something.
“The organisation is specifically about women and children on the streets. I think a lot of women on the streets struggle, my goal is to get each woman and child off the street but to also connect with the homeless community in Muizenberg.
“I realised when people feel seen, heard and loved it creates a connection.”
