GEORGE NEWS - While stray horses roam the streets of Pacaltsdorp, endangering the lives of children and motorists, George municipal law enforcement seems to fixate on herding the homeless in the George CBD.

This is according to a group of homeless people who claim to be fed up with being left out in the cold time and again after having their blankets and personal belongings - such as identity documents, bank cards, and chronic medication - confiscated by municipal law enforcement.

The group, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, maintains that these are often the same blankets handed out to them by the Department of Social Development under the watchful eye of municipal law enforcement.

They explained the raids typically take place from 22:00 at night or early in the morning, before sunrise. 

Often, they say, their belongings are indiscriminately tossed onto the back of a truck and eventually dumped at the municipal landfill site. This is how, they say, one of them lost his bank card, into which his mother deposits a small amount of money each month. 

With his registration documents also a casualty of the raid, he is now unable to access the money - and unable to replace the card without an ID.

Another said he had to go without his TB medication for three weeks after it was taken away along with his personal belongings. The group claims the authorities care more about keeping the George CBD neat and tidy than about their welfare and called for a face-to-face meeting with George Mayor Jackie von Brandis to discuss a viable solution.

Catalyst for crime
They say that, in the absence of a further strategy to help get the homeless off the streets, the raids act as a catalyst for crime, as people often resort to breaking into properties to find a warm place to sleep or steal new blankets.

This echoes what Deon Frans, a former homeless person reintegrated through the Ithemba programme, claims. (Homed after 29 years on George's streets, George Herald, 10 July).

"They always take our bedding and all our stuff and dump it at the landfill site. That doesn't help, because then we would just break into shops or houses to replace our bedding so we can stay warm," he told George Herald.

Christian Rehabilitation Ministries to the Homeless in George (Cremhog) General Manager, André Olivier, who is also in charge of the Ithemba programme, said repeatedly confiscating blankets (often donated by the public) is a waste of public resources. 

He reiterated a previous call for the establishment of safe spaces similar to those implemented by the City of Cape Town to address the shortage of shelter space in George. 

According to the City of Cape Town's website, it has five safe spaces that provide basic overnight accommodation, access to ablution facilities, and secure storage lockers for personal belongings.

Belongings NOT confiscated
Meanwhile, George Municipality's law enforcement manager, Richard von Willingh, responded to George Herald's questions with a completely different version of events. He said while the municipality was committed to ensuring that public spaces remain safe and accessible for all residents, businesses and visitors, they also recognised the dignity and rights of people living on the streets. 

He said the municipality continued to engage with the homeless through available support services and NGO's. 

He strongly denied allegations of personal belongings being confiscated and discarded.

"Law enforcement does not confiscate personal belongings such as clothing, blankets, or identity documents. What is removed are abandoned materials left in public areas in an unhygienic state. Where items such as identification or Sassa cards, or medication are found, these are kept safely and may be reclaimed by their owners via the Law Enforcement office," said Von Willingh.

He encouraged members of the public wishing to help to work through established NGO's and organisations, rather than handing out items on the street, which keep people on the streets. 

He encouraged anyone with evidence of personal belongings being taken unlawfully to report it to the municipality. Contact Law Enforcement at 25B Cathedral Street; on 044 801 6350 (07:45 - 16:30) or 044 801 6300 (after hours for emergencies), or at sprins@george.gov.za.

Overnight street stays illegal
The George's municipal bylaws ban sleeping on the streets, clearly stating: "No person may, in a street, sleep, overnight or erect any shelter."

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