Pretoria Central
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Pretoria Central 2 OCTOBER,OCTOBER, 202020220 • 012-842-030000112-2-848422--03030000 Living conditions at the homeless shelter in the CBD. Left: Gauteng Department of Social Development MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi. R10m facelift for homeless shelter ‘Of all the shelters that I have visited today, this one is the worst,’ says MEC. Reitumetse Mahope documents) and the Department of shelter would be decommissioned. Health to assist with medical needs “I am strongly looking into The Struben Street shelter for the as well as non-profi t organisations decommissioning it because of the homeless in the Pretoria CBD would to provide skills and job readiness [poor] conditions [here].” Nomathemba be shut down temporarily and its programmes. “The homeless here will be placed Mokgethi during her residents moved to other shelters The campaign has already been in other shelters. There are other visit to the Struben while it is refurbished to the tune of rolled out in Johannesburg, the West beautiful shelters throughout the Sreet shelter in the R10-million, a provincial government Rand, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and metro.” Pretoria CBD. MEC has revealed. Tshwane. She described the Akasia shelter, This follows a visit to the facility She said the Tshwane social for instance, as “excellent”. by Gauteng Department of Social development and community “As you can see, the Strubenen Development MEC Nomathemba department has been using a model Street shelter is not safe. Thus,s, the Mokgethi earlier this week. diff erent to the strategies and models department and metro must mmoveove “Out of all the shelters that I have implemented by other shelters in the quickly to move the occupantsts and visited today, this one is the worst,” province. restore their dignity.” she said. Mokgethi said, however, that her She said it was thanks to Covid-19ovid-19 The No.2 Struben Street shelter department would begin a partnership that national and local governmentnment is the only shelter for the homeless with the Tshwane metro in creating could partner in achieving goals.als. in the city owned by the Tshwane permanent habitable shelters for the She said from this week municipality. homeless. onwards, the elderly and drugg Mokgethi visited the overcrowded “We are going to work with them. users at the shelter would be and “unsafe” shelter on Monday as They have a plan, a budget and a transferred to more suitable part of a campaign aimed at ensuring specialised unit that will deal with ones elsewhere. homeless people are placed in issues of the homeless.” Mokgethi said her visit wass permanent shelters. Mokgethi said the homeless she not only to gain information oonn She said as part of the campaign she spoke with pleaded to be consulted on how the homeless lived at thee would visit three homeless shelters various decisions that would impact shelters she visited, but also too in the Tshwane region to ensure their lives. fi nd out how they felt and whathat that homeless benefi ciaries received She said many of them complained their needs were. sustainable options to survive beyond about not being able to communicate Another aim was to try andd the national lockdown. their needs to the metro. re-unify some of the homelesss Mokgethi was acting in partnership “Many of them told me they want people at the shelters with theireir with various government departments. to be consulted and I fully agree with families. MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi talking to These included the Department them. They may be homeless, but No date was supplied as to residents about their grievances about of Home Aff airs (for those who they should also have a voice.” by when residents would be living conditions at the shelter. required birth certifi cates and identity Mokgethi said it was “likely” the moved from the shelter. 2 NEWS PRETORIA CENTRAL REKORD 2 OCTOBER, 2020 Salvokop kids celebrate Heritage Day with a fun walk and plants Ron Sibiya More than 130 local children had a rare opportunity to celebrate Heritage Day, thanks to Salvokop Youth. “We targeted the children because the area lacks activities that accommodate the young ones,” said Sabatha Matlou, one Photo for illustration purposes only. of the interim leaders of Salvokop Youth. Heritage Day, celebrated annually on 24 September in South Africa, saw children accompanied More suspects by Salvokop Youth fi rst embarking on a Freedom Park fun walk before going to a house on the corner of First Street and Second Avenue, where they were treated probed in SAPS to traditional dances as well as Thapelo Tsotetsi (11) participates in the planting lesson at the Heritage artwork and planting lessons. Day celebration in Salvokop. During the fun walk, children had an opportunity to learn about “We walked a long distance, but He said it was heartwarming to R85m looting Freedom Park and its signifi cance. we had fun.” Tsotetsi also shared see the youth doing the right thing. “Most children in this area did her passion of planting. “I am proud of them. Not so long not know much about the Freedom “Planting is my favourite thing ago, they conducted a clean-up ‘This is a build-up case. South Africans Park despite it being at Salvokop’s because my father is a farmer and drive here in Salvokop and now should expect that more heads will doorstep,” Matlou said. one of the biggest achievers in the they have successfully organised a She said the walk also Free State. Planting is something Heritage Day celebration.” roll in the next few days.’ encouraged the children as well as exciting and it is in my blood.” The interim leadership of the youth to exercise regularly to The children were also treated to Salvokop Youth wants the youth to Reitumetse Mahope the supply chain management live a healthy life. a balanced meal, which had been be united and play a crucial role in division in Silverton who One of the participants, Thapelo prepared by Salvokop youth. solving their problems and those of At least 42 individuals who are appeared in court on Monday. Tsotetsi (11), said he and his Community worker Pastor Joel children in that area. suspected of looting “Each of the accused are out friends enjoyed the walk. Mayephu commended the youth Matlou thanked everyone who R85-million have had their case on R5 000 bail.” “I feel excited because it is for taking the lead in serving the helped them succeed in organising postponed to 25 March 2021 for She said the initial my fi rst such event in this area,” community of Salvokop and taking and hosting the Heritage Day further investigations. investigations pertaining to Tsotetsi said. care of children. event. Investigating directorate the marking and de-marking spokesperson Sindisiwe Twala of SAPS vehicles uncovered said the 42 suspects appeared massive looting of state before the Pretoria magistrate’s funds through procurement Protest march at foreign embassy court on Tuesday, to answer irregularities, cover quoting to charges related to tender and fraudulent processing of irregularities in the Supply contracts to unlawfully award The various groups demanded that human traffi cking in SA to end. Chain Management (SCM) the same supplier, having division of the South African numerous companies registered Lunga Mzangwe and He said human traffi cking was of fake news relating to human Police Service (SAPS). on the supplier data base. Reitumetse Mahope the third largest international traffi cking or kidnapping of “The irregularities pertain to “This is a build-up case. crime, following illegal drugs and women and children,” said police the awarding of the marking South Africans should expect Various activists, civil society arms traffi cking. spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo and de-marking of SAPS that more heads will roll groups and individuals marched to “Human traffi cking is believed Peters. vehicles valued at R56-million in the next few days,’’ said the Nigerian embassy in Pretoria to be worth billions. It is estimated “We are cautioning the public and cover quoting related investigating directorate head to protest the “scourge” of human that there are millions of victims, against sharing such malicious procurement to favour specifi c Hermione Cronje. traffi cking. though only around 100 000 cases untruths. companies, valued at Mathe said the tender case The protest comes shortly are found each year.” “This practice continues to R29-million.” dated back to 2018, when the after police have warned against In their memorandum, the spread even after the offi ce of the Of the 42 suspects, 22 are police commissioner General the spreading of fake human various groups demanded that national commissioner issued a serving members of the SAPS, Khehla Sitole established a traffi cking “news” and rumours on human traffi cking in South Africa similar warning two weeks ago,” six are either retired or have team to look into allegations social media. be ended. said Peters. resigned from the service and of tender irregularities in the The Agents of Change NPO They also demanded thehe the rest are service providers. awarding of the marking and and its affi liates handed over a prosecution of law enforcementcement Police spokesperson de-marking of SAPS vehicles memorandum to the embassy on offi cials aiding human traffiaffi ckingcking Colonel Athlenda Mathe said after complaints and allegations Wednesday. rings, for corruption to endnd at all accused faced a range of of corruption were brought to The group claimed that the home aff airs offi ces and thehe charges including corruption, his attention. Sunnyside precinct was “the shutting down of all foreign-ign- fraud, money laundering, theft Sitole has commended the epicentre of all human traffi cking owned businesses in the innerinner city, and perjury. relentless eff orts of the special operations”.