/ 10 February 2005

Jo’burg beggars to receive documents, training

Begging on street corners will soon be a thing of the past for Johannesburg street children and beggars in general, the Gauteng social services department said on Thursday.

The department has begun a drive to register street children for birth certificates and identity documents.

”These are vital documents that open doors for a person. We have partners with the departments of home affairs and labour to ensure that these children not only receive these vital documents but that they are also absorbed into the Setas [sector education and training authorities], where they will receive training.

”We believe Setas are best placed to assist in reskilling and redirecting these youth,” said Sam Muofhe, departmental spokesperson.

He reiterated provincial social services minister Bob Mabaso’s plea that the public should discourage begging by not giving donations to these children.

”We plan on broadening this campaign to other parts of Gauteng. We will also get word on the streets so that beggars know where to go to for assistance. Those who are disabled will qualify for social grants,” said Muofhe.

He said the department is expecting about 100 beggars to turn up at its offices on Commissioner Street, Johannesburg, on Thursday, where registration will be taking place.

Muofhe said this is just the first phase of the campaign.

Johannesburg Metro Police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar, whose department embarked on a campaign last week to remove beggars from the streets, said they planned on making follow-up raids.

”We will do follow-up raids at a later stage to make sure that beggars comply with the by-laws which prohibit begging on public roads. But this is not to say that we are not sensitive to the plight of beggars, because we are,” said Minnaar. — Sapa