Cape Town Mulls Plan to Fine Homeless People Who Refuse Shelter

• Cape Town is mulling a new law that will allow officers to fine homeless people who refuse shelter
• The Streets, Public Places and the Prevention of Noise Nuisances bylaw has been amended by the changes will only go into effect once the Mayor signs off on it
• The city hopes to attract investment and create jobs by reducing the risks associated with homeless people sleeping on the streets

The City of Cape Town is planning on introducing new measures to curb the growing homeless crisis in the city.

One of the bylaws that were amended allows for the city to impose fines on homeless people who refuse an offer of shelter.

Chairperson of the committee, Mzwakhe Nqavane, said that the decision was unanimously approved.

The changes still need to be approved by the mayoral committee before being tabled for final approval.

Read also

Hebanna: SA reacts to scary video of thugs targeting motorist in Joburg CBD

The law in question that has been changed is the Streets, Public Places and the Prevention of Noise Nuisances bylaw.

The changes were made to reduce complaints and reduce risks. By reducing the number of people on the streets the city hopes to attract more investment and create jobs according to News24.

Nqavane said that homeless people would be treated with respect and the fines would be imposed humanely and in line with the Constitution. The law would only be imposed if a person refuses a “reasonable offer of alternative shelter” according to TimesLIVE.

Homeless man hungry for success hands out CV, gets hundreds of job offers after going viral

Earlier, Briefly News reported that a homeless man in California identified as David Casarez took to the streets to display a placard telling people to take his resume.

Read also

City of Cape Town plans to pump money out to assist homeless people, budgeted R27 million

The placard read:

"Homeless, hungry for success. Take a resume."

According to CBS News, Casarez used up his savings and was owed $80,000 worth of student loan debt.

Casarez was noticed

A woman, Jasmine Scofield, spotted Casarez while driving and she was surprised that he wasn't asking for money but wanted people to take his resume, Goalcast reports.

Man looking for job at traffic light goes viral, Mzansi offers help

The current situation in the country is heartbreaking - thousands of people are unemployed, including graduates who thought that getting an education would help them land a job.

However, while many wait on the government to create job opportunities, one man decided to take matters into his own hands. Ayanda Mbatha is a mechanical engineering technician who was retrenched in May 2020 due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Instead of losing hope, Mbatha, 26, decided to take his battle to the streets. He printed out CVs and made a sign that summed up his qualifications.

Source: Briefly News