Speech by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary General and member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
26 August 2021
Speaker
The Department of Social Development is mandated to ensure the provision of a comprehensive social development service that enables and empowers the poor, the vulnerable and those with special needs.
These services are important protect, and repairs, our social fabric and especially ensure that those residents who are vulnerable, excluded and most in need of social assistance are in fact assisted.
The failure of the Department of Social Development to deliver facilities and services greatly contributes towards the increasing number of people in need of social support.
Transitional housing for the homeless is one of the most important needs in this City and Province right now. It is the start of the social support needed to assist the growing number of homeless people who live in appalling and dangerous conditions on our streets.
In the Cape Town alone there are estimated to be about 14 000 people living on the streets. The factors contributing to this growing figure are well known. They include unemployment, poverty, domestic violence/abuse, and lack of access to affordable housing/accommodation, etc.
The provision of adequate facilities, and appropriate programmes, is essential to addressing the pathway off the street and it is the department’s responsibility.
But this government has outsourced their responsibility.
Last year the Minister allocated R12 million for homeless shelters – the majority of it going to the Haven.
This parliament can debate the impact of Covid-19, but this government has the mandate, the duty and the funding to actually do something.
The extent of starvation and hunger in our province is a disgrace.
A month ago in KTC, in Nyanga, I met families in crisis. I met a young man who is so hungry that he is slaughtering cats and dogs to eat.
These are conditions that this government must address.
Instead of standing by, while food monies are stolen by your colleagues in the City of Cape Town, do the right damn thing. Intervene.
Roll out a massive hunger alleviation programme and feed the hungry at the very least.
You found R1.3 billion for a fake policing project.
I urge you to focus on your basic mandate and feed the hungry and house the homeless.