Tension between homeless and residents in City’s southern suburbs

In the Mowbray subway, there is a family of three who have been homeless for more than two years. Mr Jacob explained that they used to live in a house in Woodstock, but they were left homeless due to rent issues. He said they hoped to get a Wendy house from his wife’s boss next month, but for now they will stay where they are.

Thando Makhoza has been living on the streets of Mowbray for over seven years. Since 16, he has been a car guard in Rondebosch. Thando says he loves being on the streets; it’s his way of meeting new people every day. He ran away from home because he was abused by his stepfather, and his family were substance abusers.

“Long time ago I had a job in Wynberg. I worked for more than two years. When the contract was done, I did not find any other job and I was left homeless,” he said. Being on the street, he believes, is better than living with his family.

Nicole Sonder is 22. She says she is addicted to drugs. She too ran away from home because she was beaten.

“I used to steal from people and I was not trusted by my family and my community. So I thought it was best for me to go and find a place to stay where I would not bother anyone,”

she said.

Sonder said that while on the streets she was once raped by two homeless men. When she reported it to the police in Mowbray, no one would listen to her. The police, she said, called her a “hobo”. She stayed in a shelter in Wynberg for three months, but went back on the streets because she “did not like being indoors, and my habit of stealing started again, so I ran way.”

Nomxolisi Tatsi, a social worker with the Department of Social Development, said that being homeless can become a psychological problem. People get used to the idea of being outdoors and not having to live by rules.

“In many cases people are taken to shelters but they find it hard to stay in them, so they run away. There are cases where people find the shelter environment a reminder of their past,” she said.

Tatsi said that given some of the reasons for leaving, it made no sense that some shelters strove to take the people back to their families. Instead, she said, they should be educated and provided with skills where they will be able to find jobs and stand on their own. Maybe later in life they can reunite with their families.

She said homeless people are human beings who deserve kindness, tolerance and respect, like any other person.

But Steven Ross, a resident in the area, said that a few weeks ago his car was broken into during the night and his belongings were stolen. He suspects the homeless people that stay nearby. He claims they also break into houses, and that they are making the area unpleasant to live in.

Ross said many residents complain about the homeless people causing crime. He also said they have made the area dirty, and that Observatory had lost its beauty because of the homeless.

Captain Matories from Mowbray police station however said there were no cases opened by residents in the area where homeless people were found to be guilty of crime. “I do not think these people are any danger to the community” he said.

A homeless women living in the shelter of a pedestrian subway. Photo by Pharie Sefali

Metrorail officers are currently moving the people out of the subways. A GroundUp journalist witnessed Mr Jacobs family being forcibly removed from the subway. It was a rainy morning and the family had lots of luggage.

One officer said that the people are disturbing the residents who commute by train, and making them feel uncomfortable by sleeping in the subways.

“We can’t be sympathetic because of the rain. We are just following instructions and doing our jobs,” said the officer.

The following morning, the family was back. They said that the subway is their home for now and they do not have another place to stay. They will keep running away from the officials until they find a place of their own.