Proposed site for Muizenberg homeless shelter ‘could affect tourism, economic activity’

A parking lot in Muizenberg has been suggested as the site of the City of Cape Town’s new Safe Space shelter. The 1,141m² property is located in Sidmouth Road, close to the popular Surfers’ Corner beach, restaurants and surf stores. The shelter, which will be run in partnership with welfare organisation U-turn, will have at least 60 beds.

At a meeting on 15  July, subcouncil 19, which includes Muizenberg, approved a proposal from the City’s property management department that the parking lot be handed over from the Safety and Security directorate to the Community, Arts and Culture directorate. The plan is to create a Safe Space “designed to provide dignified transitional shelter and extensive social interventions aimed at helping homeless individuals move away from life on the streets”.

The transfer has also been approved by other directorates, according to City of Cape Town spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo.

In a statement, Simon Roberts, the chairperson of the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID), said the MID supported the shelter but was concerned about the proposed location as it could affect tourism and economic activity.

“This is the last available A-grade erf that can be developed to enhance our area,” he said. He said the MID wanted a full public participation process before a location was chosen.

“The public have not been informed, educated or consulted on this,” he said.

Tyhalibongo said a final decision had not yet been taken.

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He said the City noted the concern about the economic impact shelters could have, but “there is a desperate need for shelters across the city, including in Muizenberg, in order to accommodate people who have taken up occupation in many of our public places, including under bridges and in the Muizenberg Park”.

He said the Western Cape High Court had said shelters should be located close to where the people involved earned an income, “and this constrains the choice of locality for suitable shelter space in the city to ensure that our homeless persons are offered a suitable path out of homelessness and off the streets”.

Tyhalibongo said U-turn would be entitled to apply to lease this site, and if the City considered the application, the lease would be advertised for public comment. DM

First published by GroundUp.

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