A non-profit company (NPC), Rehoming Collective, has reportedly described as “unjust and discriminatory” the deliberate vitimisation of homeless people being blamed for starting fires.
“It (victimisation of the homeless) is, unfortunately, being used to advance a certain political agenda, and we have been struggling with that type of perception,” EWN quoted Rehoming Collective’s Carlos Mesquita as saying.
Last month a homeless man Frederick Mhangazo, 35, was arrested on allegations that he started one of the fires on Table Mountain.
Mhangazo was apprehended hours after the initial blaze (which was believed to have been started by a vagrant) broke out.
He was accused of starting a new fire during the existing blaze.
According to IOL, the charge against Mhangazo was later changed from arson to lighting or causing an open fire without proper authority.
His case was postponed until June 18, 2021, for further investigation.
Rehoming Collective has since given Frederick Mhangazo a place of shelter and helped him find a job.
Picture: Twitter