Recent cases of homeless occupancy on Bloubergstrand\u2019s main beach has left the community concerned for their safety when two groups of people took residence on the beach dunes along Otto du Plessis Drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One group erected a tent and the other sought shelter in an abandoned building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is not yet clear when the two groups of people arrived, said Nicky Rheeder, councillor of Ward 107. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI do not know exactly when they arrived, they also come and go a lot as they were gone last week and are back again (at present),\u201d Rheeder explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents of Bloubergstrand have voiced their dismay about the situation calling it unsafe and unsightly. The community is also frustrated with the City of Cape Town\u2019s slow and irregular response to the situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
TygerBurger <\/em>interviewed a homeless person residing on the beach dunes who attributed their occupancy to previously unsafe living conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe all came from Atlantis, and fled the dangerous gang activity present there,\u201d Romano Stevens said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stevens acknowledges that he knows living on the beach dunes is illegal, but \u201cdoes not know where else to go\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe plan to reside here (Bloubergstrand beach) permanently, as it is safe, and sheltered from the rain,\u201d according to Stevens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stevens suggested law enforcement, or the local police station had not yet taken action against the homeless occupancy on Bloubergstrand beach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The City explained that during the global Covid-19 pandemic and national state of disaster, homelessness throughout Cape Town grew rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe two-year national state of disaster and related economic impact has led to unmatched levels of homelessness in the city \u2013 with many people sleeping in public places, including sidewalks, parks, road reserves, beaches, and under bridges,\u201d the City responded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, active attempts are made to rectify the homelessness statistics throughout Cape Town, by spending an allocated amount of R152 million on City-run safe spaces, shelters, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and studies conducted by Social Development and Early Childhood Development (ECD) to assess the reason for homelessness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Recent cases of homeless occupancy on Bloubergstrand\u2019s main beach has left the community concerned for their safety when two groups of people took residence on the beach dunes along Otto du Plessis 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