CBD homeless and municipality at odds

While stray horses roam the streets of Pacaltsdorp, endangering the lives of children and motorists, George municipal law enforcement seems to fixate on herding the homeless in the George CBD.

- Jacqueline Herbst

This is according to a group of homeless people who claim to be fed up with being left out in the cold time and again after having their blankets and personal belongings - such as identity documents, bank cards, and chronic medication - confiscated by municipal law enforcement.

The group, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, maintains that these are often the same blankets handed out to them by the Department of Social Development under the watchful eye of municipal law enforcement.

Von Willingh strongly denied allegations of personal belongings being confiscated and discarded.

They explained the raids typically take place from 22:00 at night or early in the morning, before sunrise. Often, they say, their belongings are indiscriminately tossed onto the back of a truck and eventually dumped at the municipal landfill site. This is how, they say, one of them lost his bank card, into which his mother deposits a small amount of money each month. With his registration documents also a casualty of the raid, he is now unable to access the money - and unable to replace the card without an ID.

Another said he had to go without his TB medication for three weeks after it was taken away along with his personal belongings.