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Mail & Guardian

Homeless People

latest news & developments
Acts of service: Despite facing poverty in his own life, Simbirisiyo Mushanewana started a feeding scheme called Donations OnWheels. At least once a week, ‘Sammie’ and volunteers drive to different parts of Stellenbosch to offer a hot meal such as chicken and rice (left) to the homeless people of the university town. Photos: David Harrison
COVID 19

Slice of life: ‘Feeding the homeless saved me’

After developing ‘terrible depression’ Simbirisiyo Mushanewana learnt that helping others also meant helping himself

  • Eunice Masson
5 min read
Vincent Sivalingam has been homeless since the beginning of Covid-19. (Rogan Ward)
COVID 19

Homeless but not voteless in ward 28

Durban’s Denis Hurley centre is assisting homeless people to register and to vote

  • Paddy Harper
4 min read
Sandile Rasta Mthembu works in the garden at the Jewish Club site for homeless people where he and others are farming the land just off Durban’s Golden Mile. Picture: Rogan Ward
ALBERT PARK

A year into Covid, Durban’s beachfront farmers are still tilling the soil

Homeless pioneers persevere with a project that came to life during the first lockdown

  • Paddy Harper
6 min read
Although the government’s vaccination drive is already in full swing, there have been no announced plans for the vaccination of homeless people, despite the public health risk if they are left out. (Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
BELINDA SCOTT

A lifeline for the homeless people in eThekwini

eThekwini plans to retain permanent and safe open spaces for people with nowhere to sleep

  • Paddy Harper
4 min read
Economic inequalities in South Africa are becoming a major determinant of mental health, with poverty; poor living conditions; limited access to healthcare and education; workplace stress; social exclusion and historical trauma contributing to higher rates of depression and anxiety. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CAPE TOWN

Pandemic responses must ensure human rights are protected

Blanket measures such as lockdowns contribute to the needs and realities of people at the margins of society being overlooked

  • Finn Reygan
  • Ingrid Lynch
7 min read
City of Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato along with other officials held a media briefing at their Covid-19 lockdown facility in Strandfontein followed by a tour of the large marquee tents. The media presence incited many of the people in the tents that was quickly stopped after media was urged to move along. The City of Cape Town’s Covid-19 lockdown encampment in Strandfontein for up to 4000 homeless people from around the greater city area. (David Harrison/M&G)
APARTHEID

Blindness: How the Strandfontein camp was set up to fail

The facility in Cape Town was about quarantining the most vulnerable — the homeless — rather than preventing Covid-19

  • Jared Sacks
9 min read
During the global 16 days of activism campaign against violence against women and children, South African shelters for such victims fear a lack of funding could lead to many of them returning to their abusers or living on the streets.
CORONAVIRUS

Streetlife over safety in shelters

In eThekwini a successful scheme is helping homeless people, but some say the lack of drugs to feed their addictions means it is better to stay away

  • Paddy Harper
6 min read
(Paul Botes/M&G)
CLIMATE CHANGE

Pandemic gives us a last chance to avert climate – and social – catastrophe

As Covid-19 upends life, it has taught us critical lessons and offers an opening to confront other crises. Political will is required, of course

  • Bruce Baigrie
9 min read
Covid-19 homeless site has been criticised for being inadequate to shelter the most vulnerable from the coronavirus storm, while drug addicts say they’re being left to suffer due to inadequate medical attention. (David Harrison/M&G)
CAPE TOWN

Inside Strandfontein: Cape Town’s Covid-19 homeless site

The City’s Covid-19 homeless site has been criticised for being inadequate to shelter the most vulnerable from the Coronavirus storm, while drug addicts say they’re being left to…

  • Lester Kiewit
7 min read
Makeshift solutions: Cities and NGOs across the country have been scrambling for homeless people during the 21 day lockdown. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CITY OF TSHWANE

Stay at home, Cyril said. But what about the homeless?

In Tshwane, forcing homeless people off the street resulted in chaos and the abuse of a vulnerable population. In Durban, a smooth, well-planned operation fared far better

  • Simon Allison
  • Paddy Harper
8 min read
Winnie Ndlovu was on her way from work and still waiting for a taxi home, when she was shot in the face with a rubber bullet. (Paul Botes/M&G)
AUCKLAND PARK

Covid-19 lockdown chaos for homeless people left in limbo

Bullets also fired indiscriminately at people in the inner city, homeless or not

  • Chris Gilili
5 min read
SAPS members — from the mobile station at the city’s harbour — allegedly burned ID books belonging to Nosipho Magwaza and Thandeka Makhanya (above). (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
2019 ELECTIONS

Police burn ID’s of would-be voters

Women denied their right to vote after police burn ID books

  • Paddy Harper
4 min read
Score: The harsh circumstances of living on the street can be numbed for as little as R20, which is all it costs for enough heroin to stay stoned for half a day. Photos: David Harrison
HOMELESS PEOPLE

Down and out in the Mother City

Homeless people and addicts have moved to the city centre because it’s safer and they are not harassed as much

  • Lester Kiewit
6 min read
Marko — SOL Oupa Nkosi
BHEKISISA

#SliceOfLife: No one cares if a drug user dies

”Most drugs users have a pauper’s burial. On very rare occasions the family buries them.”

  • Nelisiwe Msomi
2 min read
Seri-SA has accused the City of Johannesburg of doing nothing to provide alternative accommodation for evictees since the landmark 2011 Blue Moonlight judgment.
DURBAN

‘I can’t do anything to protect myself’: Homeless women on dangers they face

The Daily Vox asked some women who spend most of their day on Durban’s streets whether they feel safe.

  • Rumana Akoob
4 min read