The City of Cape Town’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Street People Programme has responded to the motion
for the implementation of an urgent management plan for Helen Suzman Boulevard in Green Point.
The motion was submitted by Ward 115 councillor Dave Bryant to Sub-council 16 in October last year.
Mr Bryant requested that an urgent interim urban management plan be put in place to manage ongoing challenges on the boulevard and surrounds.
Among these are the overall maintenance of the Green Point area along Helen Suzman Boulevard, particularly near to
the MyCiTi stop, the A-Track parking area and the traffic
circle underpass (“Boulevard
plan needed, Atlantic Sun,
October 31 2019).
The sub-council heard that despite ongoing service requests, on-site meetings and other attempted interventions by the councillor, dumping, littering,
vandalism, graffiti and rough
sleeping continued to be a problem.
The motion was welcomed by the Green Point Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, who
said it would ensure better safety and security for everyone in the area.
The ratepayers said the requests and cleaning services that they get on a daily basis showed that this is a problem that creates a lot of work, not only for the City, but for everyone.
The sub-council resolved that the motion be delivered to the executive directors for water and waste; safety and security; and community services and health for urgent feedback.
In the feedback brought by the Social Development and Early Childhood Development Street People Programme, sub-council heard that the team conducts social outreach in the area on a daily basis through routine fieldwork.
Reporting on their findings, they stated that officials experience cases of substance abuse at most hot spot locations under subcouncil 16.
They also reported observing children in these areas and engage them frequently but the matter is referred to the provincial Department of Social Development as the custodians of all children.
Mr Bryant said another safe space, besides the Culomberg, was needed as most “rough sleepers” choose the CBD and Atlantic Seaboard areas because of economic opportunities.
“We need to expand these safe spaces. They do fantastic work and the jobs that are being created and lives being changed through these spaces are wonderful.
“Please prioritise the Atlantic Seaboard area for a new safe space. We need to cater for them to ensure that we give them the dignity that they don’t deserve so they don’t sleep under bridges,” he said.
Sharing the sentiments, Ward 54 councillor, Nicola Jowell, said the issue of homeless people was a burning issue not only in Helen Suzman Boulevard but in all sub-council 16 areas.
The team said they would try to work with local NGOs to tackle the matter and build strong relationships with internal and external and stakeholders to reduce the number of people living on the streets.
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