Somerset West police have opened an inquest docket after the body of a homeless man was discovered earlier this morning (Friday 26 September).
The deceased, who has not yet been formally identified, was well-known for wandering Somerset West streets.
According to police spokesperson Sergeant Suzan Jantjies officers responded to reports of the lifeless body of a man found in Sergeant Street at 07:20.
“It is believed that the deceased, a 40-year-old homeless man, had been sleeping at business premises in the vicinity,” said Jantjies.
“The inquest will investigate the circumstances and cause of death.”
Jo Swart, chairperson of the Somerset West Night Shelter, acknowledged the tragic discovery opposite the organisation’s family-shelter facility.
She explained that a supervisor had alerted her to the incident, expressing sadness over the loss of the deceased individual who had reportedly been offered assistance but declined help.
“He was apparently well-known for sleeping in that area.”
Andy Loughton, chairman of Thomas House of Hope and founder of Street Church, expressed sadness over the loss while remaining unaware of the specific circumstances surrounding the deceased’s death.
“It is still very raw,” he said.
Loughton described the deceased as a man who, from his understanding, was thought to be mentally ill, but had been a victim of physical abuse that contributed to his deteriorated state.
“He was nice enough to interact with, but had afflictions that he couldn’t get help for. Finding a place to belong was difficult because no suitable facilities were available.”
The deceased had previously received assistance from the non-profit organisation – which aims to give the street people of Somerset West the opportunity to improve their lives with dignity, love and respect – and had been repatriated with his family and placed in a facility, only to end up back on the streets.”This represents a failure of the system that’s supposed to be available,” Loughton explained. “The reality is that mental illness on the streets is our biggest problem, and there’s nowhere for these people to go or be properly handled. It’s disturbing.”
He highlighted the lack of adequate facilities, resources, and manpower to address the crisis, noting the societal rejection faced by those who “don’t fit in with society’s norms.”
A local social worker at the Night Shelter, who formerly managed Thomas House of Hope, shared a touching memory of the deceased whom she had known for seven years. “[He] was fondly remembered for always carrying a distinctive 2-litre drink bottle, which he filled with NikNaks,” he said. This bottle, containing these slimy looking things, became his defining characteristic and made him memorable to everyone who knew him in the community.”
- The police called on anyone with additional information that could aid the investigation to contact the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Berchill Allies at the Somerset West Police Station on 021 850 1302.
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