Oudtshoorn, 16 August 2017 – The Oudtshoorn Municipality has moved the homeless families that have, for months made makeshift homes in Vrede Street, to a new shelter in Jubilee Street.
Many concerned citizens of the greater Oudtshoorn have raised concerns about the living conditions at Vrede Street also citing the cold weather that the people have to endure.
“We have not only heeded calls from the public, but also acted within our responsibility to help these families,” said the Executive Mayor Colan Sylvester in his reaction to the move, which was done on Wednesday afternoon.
Executive Mayoral committee (Mayco) has on Monday, 14 August 2017, recommended that a building situated at No. 47 Jubilee Street be utilized as shelter for homeless people. The Mayco furthermore recommended that this shelter be named to Oudtshoorn Shelter for the Homeless.
This move is as a result of partnership between Oudtshoorn Municipality and the Department of Social Development (DSD) since March this year when a Memorandum of understanding was signed by the Executive Mayor, Cllr. Colan Sylvester and the Provincial Minister of the Department of Social Development (DSD), Mr. Albert Fritz. This MOU was intended to ensure that the Municipality, DSD and other stakeholders in the communities work together in implementation of key programmes such as the plight of the children living in the streets and abused women among others.
The Oudtshoorn Municipal Council subsequently endorsed the availing of its buildings to the DSD for social programmes of which this specific building valued at R 500 000 was one of them.
The shelter is currently manned by three personnel. The people of the greater Oudtshoorn are encouraged to open their heart and extend their hands to assist to turn this new shelter into a home. Donations should not be given to the people living on the streets but to the shelter.