Cape Town - Haven Night Shelter demolition Bellville

Unknown Speaker 38

Supports the demolition of the Haven Night Shelter on behalf of the Freedom Front Plus, despite the shelter's strong track record in rehabilitating heroin users, because the facility has become unsafe, severely vandalised, and costs the City 169,000 rand per month on security alone — security that failed to prevent the damage. NGOs challenging evictions in court are not protecting the homeless but trapping them in conditions of crime, drugs and prostitution. Calls on every sphere of government to establish a permanent multidisciplinary task team dedicated to the Bellville crisis, arguing that Bellville has been «the forgotten child» of Cape Town while residents and businesses bear the burden of escalating lawlessness. A more proactive rather than reactive approach could save the City millions of rands.

Unknown Speaker 39

The ANC supports the demolition but criticises the City for allowing the facility to deteriorate to this point: the City and its department permitted the unhealthy, dilapidated condition to continue and now want to demolish. Around 50 families are living under the bypass, and the demolition will severely affect the poorest of the poor. The facility was once valued at 7.5 million rand but is now estimated at only 750,000 rand, which amounts to the City throwing away taxpayers' money. While the Mayor claims 1,300 beds are available, those beds are concentrated in the Cape Town CBD and not in the Bellville area, and the City's R97 million allocation for homelessness includes nothing for Bellville homeless people.

GG

Geraldine GordonDemocratic Alliance

Supports the proposed demolition of the old Haven structure in Bellville, noting that the building is currently vandalised and the proposal should proceed.

GH

Geordin Hill-LewisExecutive Mayor · Democratic Alliance

Agrees with the Freedom Front Plus speaker that NGOs prolonging evictions are doing profound harm both to homeless people and to the city. However, rejects the suggestion that government spheres are merely pointing fingers: the City has taken action even on land it does not own, including legal action at Tienie Meyer, and an NGO appeal of the Transnet N1 judgment is now heading to the Supreme Court, causing further delays. Lists multiple sites where the City has intervened — Tienie Meyer, Transnet land along the N1, Public Works land at Darling Street, and the Emporium land in Constantia — none of which are City-owned parcels. The court process is lengthy and the City cannot act as vigilantes, but it is certainly not sitting on its hands.

Haven Night Shelter demolition Bellville

Summary

Statements(4)

Haven Night Shelter demolition Bellville

Summary

Statements(4)