Joburg homeless moved from YMCA due to lack of food, security
The City of Johannesburg says a lack of security and food has forced it to move homeless people from the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) in Orlando East, Soweto.
The city earlier reached an agreement with the organisation to house the home at its shelter for the duration of the 21-day national lockdown.
Spokesperson Mlimandlela Ndamase says the city decided to bus the homeless to the YMCA as its facilities were already oversubscribed.
“However, the number grew overnight as word spread out that YMCA is accommodating homeless, increasing the numbers that were initially accounted for.
“As these growing numbers were not anticipated, this resulted into the shortage of food and other supplies and posed a challenge to the provision of security on site.”
The homeless were subsequently moved to various recreational centres across the city.
“The city is working with the provincial Department of Social Development to ensure that the homeless are housed, fed and secured in the city’s facilities,” Ndamase says.
ALSO READ
Gauteng's homeless moved to shelters ahead of lockdown
South Africa will go into a 21-day lockdown period on Friday in a bid to curb the rapid spread of coronavirus. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Friday that the country's coronavirus toll has surpassed 900. The department's Jabulani Hlongwane says the homeless people will be temporarily moved to shelters for the next three weeks.