The arrival of Coronavirus Pandemic (Covid-19) came as a rescue according to Samuel Monyemore (35) from Benoni in Ekurhuleni who was once a homeless person among many vulnerable groups which had to be protected when the State of Disaster was proclaimed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March 2020.
Despite many challenges that have left him vulnerable and having to fend on the streets, Monyemore says he is now one of the contributors to the economy through his farming project that he started with the help of the Manger Care Centre, a shelter for homeless people in Benoni, funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development.
Monyemore is one of over three thousand (3000) homeless beneficiaries who received support from the Gauteng Provincial Government as a response to the disaster, during enforced lockdown regulations.
This has indeed given the Gauteng Department of Social Development green light as part of its mandate of caring for the most vulnerable groups in society.
The Department in collaboration with Municipalities, various Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) and Churches, were tasked to place people living on the streets in temporary homeless shelters, and to provide services such as meals, treatment for substance abuse, medical screening, counselling, and some were reunified with their families.
According to a research done by the Cape Metropolitan Council (2017), homeless people are amongst the most vulnerable in society and live under stressful conditions with challenges such as illiteracy, hunger, drug abuse, malnutrition, sexual exploitation and crime.
The Bill of Rights as a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.
Therefore, as South Africa observes Youth Month, it is indeed important to highlight and note some of the key achievements from young people who remained mindful of the challenges around them but were geared up to overcome them.
Monyemore is now a proud owner of hectares of land and his farming project has two green houses, which provide employment, and offers consultation to prospective farmers, thanks to key stakeholders such as the Gauteng Department of Social Development, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
However, it remains a cause for concern looking at the growing number of people living on the streets. People of all ages are affected, some are more vulnerable to abuse.
Therefore, it is necessary that a concerted effort be made to deal with homelessness, to ensure that homeless people do not return to life on the streets but are offered a lifeline and integrated support to live like normal citizens.
Gauteng Social Development acknowledges that ending homelessness can only be attained through a multi-stakeholder approach, in which communities, civil society organisations, government agencies and private sector work together to implement systematic responses that will help prevent recurring homelessness. Therefore, calls on all stakeholders and role players to band together in curbing homelessness
Phetoho Maja, Gauteng Social Development
