Transnet yard to be ‘safe haven’

CULEMBORG, the dilapidated Transnet yard on the Foreshore, which is under scrutiny by City Health’s Air Quality Management Unit was this week identified as a possible site for a safe haven for homeless people

Yesterday, Cape Argus, columnist Danny Oosthuizen reported that JP Smith, safety, security and social services mayoral committee member, informed him the city had earmarked Culemborg as a site where a safe space could be created for homeless people and the development would begin by September.

Oosthuizen reported that it would be a fenced-off space where “people could sleep, prepare meals, do laundry”, and there would be “lockers where property could be locked away”, as well as an opportunity to join work programmes.

Yesterday, Smith said the city was “considering creating a temporary safe space for street people and is in the feasibility and planning phase of this project”.

Outlining the city’s investigation, which began as a result of a complaint from a Transnet tenant about air/ dust pollution from the site, Smith said Transnet had been summoned to provide a dust management plan in accordance with the City’s Air Quality Management By-law

“The dust management plan was subsequently received and approved for implementation. Transnet was also requested to implement the application of a chemical dust suppressant to the site to assist with dust control.”