Cooking up solutions to homeless
LATE at night, images flash in front of me. Images of people being evicted from their homes. An elderly lady in a wheelchair sleeping on the pavement in District 6. Missing kids found dead. And I fail to understand how we got here. Not even Mandela Day could liven my sombre mood. During the apartheid years, people were forcibly removed.
Why is history repeating itself? Money? When is enough enough? How can we justify forced evictions? And why do we not take action? The one’s death seems to be the other’s bread.
We need action. Endless meetings, consultations, and other bull people get fed by the city. I would love to know how Brett Herron sleeps at night. R11.12 million for transitional housing... R16.9m was spent on the Sea Point Promenade. And thank you!
May I suggest that the DA swop their councillors around. Let those from the city and suburbs go work in the townships so they can see the need first hand. Let them go live in places like Wolwerivier and Blikkiesdorp for 90 days. Then spend money where it is needed.
We all love the smell of money but when one bulldozes people out of their houses so that a quick buck can be made, it stinks! Let me tell you something for nothing: the day will come when a person will come and mobilise the poor against the rich. Why? Because the city is creating this monster! History lessons not learnt.
On Saturday I went to a graduation that had me in tears. The Infinity Culinary Training ceremony took place at Woolworths in St George’s Mall.
Homeless, destitute people were given the opportunity to learn, grow and get real employment. The Best Western Hotel, The One And Only and the Mount Nelson Hotel are just a few establishments where these guys and girls are currently working.
It was an emotional time for everybody and I could relate to so many of their stories. There was even a guy who now works in New York! I was invited to come and spend a day with them in the kitchen and classroom to see how they are handling it all.
This is something Social Development should look at and invest in. It is, to me, a long-term solution. Even the Oppenheimer Foundation got involved. Denzel Washington, the US actor, pledged to support this initiative for the next 10 years! It is changing lives.
I want to thank everybody from all the hotels and restaurants that took the time to employ these people and give them a chance in life.
Greenmarket Square found a practical solution to employ some of the homeless in the area. Khulisa Social Solutions and the CCID took part in this project. They work five days a week, cleaning the area and have life skills in the afternoon.
It is awesome to see many homeless working these days, sending some money home and moving into shelters.