There were unconfirmed reports of Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers who were allegedly fining homeless and displacing people within the City.
Department of Public Safety MMC Michael Sun said they want to assure residents that what is happing is not the position of the city.
“In areas where residents have information about such incidents, we encourage them to contact us. JMPD adopts a humane approach when dealing with displaced people. The City did not take position to issue homeless and displaced persons with citation”, he said.
Sun added that the reasons are that homeless and displaced persons would not be able to pay issued fines.
“Secondly, homeless and displaced people do not have a valid fixed address which must be recorded on the citation. Another reason is that, the City would then have racked up a substantial amount of revenue in fines but would not be able to recover them. Johannesburg grapples with meeting the needs of displaced persons who seek refuge and shelter in various parts of the City. The Inner City of Johannesburg has the biggest number of homeless compared to other regions”, Sun.
Department of Health and Social Development MMC Mpho Phalatse said Johannesburg’s population grows at an estimated rate of 3000 new residents every month. She added that many come to the city seeking for better life for one reason or another.
“Others come to the city in search of economic opportunities while some of these people become displaced. Next context of City’s historic poor investment in affordable housing delivery, the challenge faced by displaced people is further exacerbated. City’s by-laws prohibit loitering and unauthorised usage of public open spaces including other infrastructures. For instance, underneath the bridges and pavements, the places have become preferred shelters for homeless and displaced persons”, she said.
Phalatse added that the City is ensuring to strike a balance between laws upheld while also recognising the vulnerable position of homeless and displaced people. Sun said JMPD will receive complaints to remove homeless people from private property such as shop fronts, pavements and even in front of peoples’ homes.
“JMPD attends to the calls by escorting the people away from the site of a complaint and take them one of the nearest shelters. Sometimes it may become necessary for JMPD to remove people from the side of road or from underneath the bridges for their safety and the safety of motorists. Part of City’s comprehensive strategy to assist the homeless is to intervene and break the circle of homeless and displaced people back to the society. Interventions managed by Department of Social Development are shelter management, awareness and prevention, community reintegration, family reunification and skills development”, said Sun.
He added that currently the City has three assessment centres, which operate Monday to Friday from 08h00 to 16h00.
“Windsor West Assessment Centre: 23 Knights Street, Windsor West, Region B Ward 98, Dan Street Assessment Centre: 1 Dan Street, Florida and the gate is on 4th Avenue, Region C, Ward 70 and Governors House Assessment Centre: 28 Kotze Street and Queens Road, Hillbrow, Region F, Ward 60. 3 Kotze overnight shelter in Hillbrow is linked to Governors House. The centre has 150 beds and caters primarily for economically active street-dwellers. Occupants of the shelter are only expected to pay a normal fee of R8 and get access to bed, washing facilities, food and a locker”, he said.
Sun said the 3 Kotze Street shelter also partners with NGOs such as Chow4Change, which seeks to restore the dignity of homeless and street people and communicate their plight to greater society.
“Other interventions offered by Social Development include outreach services, where the department targets hotspots invaded by street and homeless people. At hotspots, education about the services available for the and how to access such services is provided. Residents can contact the City’s Displace Person Unit on 011 407 7274” said Sun.
