The Fish Hoek Community Policing Forum (CPF) has urged residents not to give food to homeless people approaching them in the streets, saying that “the homeless people from Strandfontein (site) are walking through every avenue of Fish Hoek.”
According to CPF chairperson Andre Blom, “a higher percentage of them are criminals.”
“Their presence here is driven by the residents who continue to feed them and support them,” the CPF wrote.
Community Chest board chairperson Lorenzo Davids however said that such a message that discourages public engagement and sensitivity to others is upsetting.
“Not feeding the homeless is definitely not the solution. I also don’t encourage giving food at traffic lights, it does make it more difficult to give food when people are dispersed. I’m working mainly through shelters to create more structured soup kitchens around the City,” said Ladles of Love founder Danny Diliberto.
Social Development MEC Sharna Fernandez’s spokesperson, Joshua Chigome, said they are aware of the statement and will investigate.
Thousands of homeless people were housed at the Strandfontein Sports Field but the site closed earlier this month due to complaints about living conditions and health risks.
Source: IOL
Picture: Facebook/Muizenberg Improvement District