The breakout of the coronavirus pandemic came as a blessing in disguise. This is according to Samuel Monyemore, 35, from Benoni in Ekurhuleni, who was once a homeless person among many vulnerable groups, who had to be protected when the National State of Disaster was proclaimed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March 2020.
Despite many challenges that left him vulnerable and having to fend on the streets, Monyemore says he is now one of the contributors to the economy through his farming project that he started with the help of the Manger Care Centre, a shelter for homeless people in Benoni, funded by the Gauteng department of social development.
Monyemore is one of over 3,000 homeless beneficiaries who received support from the Gauteng provincial government as a response to the disaster, during the enforced lockdown regulations.
This has indeed given the Gauteng department of social development green light as part of its mandate of caring for the most vulnerable groups in society.
The department, in collaboration with municipalities, various non-profit organisations (NPOs) and churches, were tasked to place people living on the streets in temporary homeless shelters, and to provide services such as meals, treatment for substance abuse, medical screening, counselling, and some were reunified with their families.
According to a research done by the Cape Metropolitan Council (2017), homeless people are among the most vulnerable in society and live under stressful conditions with challenges such as illiteracy, hunger, drug abuse, malnutrition, sexual exploitation and crime.
The Bill of Rights, as a cornerstone of democracy in SA, enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.
Therefore, as SA observes Youth Month, it is indeed important to highlight and note some of the key achievements from young people who remained mindful of the challenges around them but were geared up to overcome them.
Monyemore is now a proud owner of hectares of land and his farming project has two green houses, which provide employment and offers consultation to prospective farmers, thanks to key stakeholders such as the department of social development and the department of agriculture and rural development.
However, it remains a cause for concern looking at the growing number of people living on the streets. People of all ages are affected, some are more vulnerable to abuse.
Therefore, it is necessary that a concerted effort be made to deal with homelessness, to ensure that homeless people do not return to life on the streets but are offered a lifeline and integrated support to live like normal citizens.
The Gauteng social development department acknowledges that ending homelessness can only be attained through a multi-stakeholder approach, in which communities, civil society organisations, government agencies and private sector work together to implement systematic responses that will help prevent recurring homelessness. Therefore, we call on all stakeholders and role players to band together in curbing homelessness
• Maja is with the Gauteng social development department
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.