GOOD Statement by Peter de Villiers,
GOOD Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
7 July 2023
GOOD calls on City of Cape Town to come clean and reveal the true reasons for shelving plans for a homeless shelter at the old Robbie Nurock Day Hospital in Buitenkant Street.
Despite the Provincial Department of Social Development saying plans for the shelter were “axed due to asbestos in the building” the site has been earmarked for a museum by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.
R4.5-million was set aside for the original Robbie Nurock Day Hospital building renovation but now R18-million is being spent on a new site, the Taffelberg crèche in Zonnebloem.
The original proposal was for a first of its kind centre for the homeless. With the accommodation on offer being transitional. A wide variety of services would have been provided to residents at the centre as well as to those still living on the streets.
The Good Party is very aware of the huge crisis the City faces in terms of accommodating the homeless.
Despite having access to those with lived experience both the City and Provincial officials disregarded the advice given and alternative suggestions made.
Officials continue to spend on emergency and short-term accommodation options instead of investing in transitional and independent living spaces.
It is ineffective and unsustainable for us to be offering temporary accommodation in 100 bed prison-style dormitories (the proposed 300 bed entry phase “Safe Space” in Green Point and the 116 bed entry phase shelter, at the old Tafelberg crèche site).
GOOD stands with the District 6 residents protesting the establishment of this new shelter at Taffelberg crèche, a culturally significant site.
District 6 residents are angry that authorities are planning to build another shelter in their area while many claimants remain in limbo.
Is asbestos really the reason for the change of location or is this a case of the DA-led Provincial Government pandering to its white voters in the affluent Gardens/Vredehoek suburbs shouting “not in our backyard”.
We call on them to rather listen to the objections of a community with valid and historical grounds.
This decision also implicitly shows that no consideration has been given to the needs and wants of those living on the streets in the area, who have campaigned for the Robbie Nurock site.
Despite there being a dire need to accommodate those living on the streets, we must start calling out this inefficient and corrupt system that keeps people imprisoned in homelessness.
We need to hold these agencies accountable otherwise the homeless crisis will continue, and probably grow, as more money is pumped into a continually failing system.
Media Enquiries:
Peter De Villiers, GOOD Member of Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Cell: 079 116 8957
Email: devilliers.pt@gmail.com
Samantha Jackson, GOOD Acting Media Manager
Cell: 083 550 9875
Email: media@forgood.org.za