The City’s Street People Unit (SPU) was hailed as heroes, who give people back their dignity and restore hope.

This was the description of ward councillors of the unit at the Subcouncil 7 meeting held on Wednesday 20 May. The meeting took place at the council chambers at the municipal office complex in Durbanville.

Ward 21 councillor Hendri Terblanche said the community, arts and development department, of which the SPU forms part, are the “unsung heroes who give people dignity and hope.”

He said that the people who find themselves on the street should make use of the safe spaces available to them — services funded by the City. Furthermore, Terblanche said, people need to change their attitude towards people who need help, and stop treating them like criminals.

Winter drive

Terblanche thanked the unit and also informed council of a winter drive which will take place in his ward in July, where members of the public can drop off blankets and other unwanted goods.

His remarks came as councillors were discussing the quarterly progress report on the street people programme interventions undertaken by the SPU within Subcouncil 7.

Ward 1 councillor Cheryl Visser said there are about 25 known rough sleepers in her ward, but raised concern that only three had been screened by the SPU during January and March this year. She wanted to know why that was the case.

Gerhard Fourie, Subcouncil chair, pointed out that perhaps the reason is because they do not want to be screened.

Thembela Bantom of the SPU explained it in a bit more detail.

“Our teams go out to visit known clients, but often they refuse the help. We go again, but sometimes they do not want to interact with the team.

Team’s challenges

“Some get aggressive, and we advise our team that they need to keep their distance.

“We are supposed to go out at least six times, but go more than that,” she said.

Bantom said for some people it takes more time to realise that they need the help, “but we do not give up”, Bantom said.

A total of 116 street people were screened across Subcouncil 7 during the three-month period, with 68 follow-up visits having been conducted. Only 10 were placed in a safe space, or shelter.

Theresa Uys, Ward 112 councillor, said the police need to get more involved.

She explained that on Wednesday a victim was attacked by two of the street people who are aggressive in her ward. She said that the City’s social workers and law enforcement do work with street people, but that when it comes to criminal activity, the police need to take responsibility.

“It is the aggressive behavior that we need to address and take to the police, many of the street people unfortunately are on substance abuse and do not want to accept the help,” she said.

The couple who had attacked the victims are known, and never accept any help from the City, Uys said, despite law enforcement offering them help.

Uys said that council needs to take the issue seriously and that it needs to be discusssed. She said the public should also be cautioned not to approach street people, as some of them are armed, “but we need to resolve this issue”, she said.

The next Subcouncil meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 19 June.

ALSO READ: Residents urged to stop handouts to street people in Subcouncil 7