City says help is available for the homeless
RESPONDING to queries from the Cape Times, Brett Herron, mayco member for transport, roads and stormwater, said: “We do not have a policy to make it difficult for people to sleep under bridges but we do need to take steps to protect the integrity of the bridge structures which can be weakened by fires made against the concrete. In some cases we are also under pressure from other residents who complain of antisocial conduct and disturbance by those who try to live under bridges.
“The city’s social development department has rehabilitation and reintegration programmes that are available to assist homeless people to move off the streets and reintegrate with their communities of origin. Of course I have empathy and concern for the circumstances under which Gregory and others live, but we do have assistance available to him which would greatly improve his and his family’s quality of life. He needs to be willing to accept our offer of assistance.”
JP Smith, mayco member for safety and security, said: “The council has received hundreds (quite literally) of complaints from residents and pedestrians around that area (the Foreshore freeway) about the conduct of the group of homeless people you are referring to, with allegations and evidence of property theft, theft out of motor vehicles and antisocial behaviour and intimidation and assault of pedestrians walking through there, etc.
“During one inspection we found stolen property and emptied-out wallets and purses.” Fires were made up against concrete structures that weakened them.