CAPE TOWN – South African Human Rights Commission officials will this week meet with Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato over a policy on homeless people.

The commission received hundreds of complaints from people living on the streets regarding their treatment at the hands of municipal officials.
Last week, the City of Cape Town was criticised for fining homeless people in the city.
The municipality issued 199 fines over a period of six months to homeless people and has denied harassing those living on the streets.
The SAHRC said it would meet with city officials this week.

Commissioner Chris Nissen explained: “I wanted to discuss with them or the council the issue about the constitutionality of this by-law and the fact that they’re using one by-law to deal with homelessness. It is unfair and violating the rights of homeless people.”
Nissen said the complaints included the removal of their possessions, as well as important documents, such as IDs and the issuing of fines.
Nissen added that without these documents, they could not access healthcare services or Sassa grants.

Meanwhile, the city said it had a safe space in the CBD which housed more than 200 street people.
The Western Cape Social Development Department said its winter readiness programme set aside R47,6 million to assist 27 shelters which provides more than 1,400 beds to homeless people.

Source: EWN