Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr René Steyn and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has successfully secured the unanimous approval of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality to establish a Dignity Centre / Transitional Shelter for homeless individuals.
This comes after the motion I brought forward and adopted on 27 August 2025, which marks a crucial step towards addressing the municipality’s growing homelessness crisis.
The homelessness in Matjhabeng is a growing crisis, where displaced individuals are increasingly occupying public and private property, resulting in illegal dumping, vandalism, fires, and significant public health and safety risks. Until now, the municipality has lacked a structured mechanism to address the problem in a lawful, coordinated, and compassionate way.
The proposed Dignity Centre is a practical and humane model, based on successful examples such as Cape Town’s Safe Space initiative. It will provide:
- Temporary shelter and sanitation – safe overnight accommodation, gender-separated sleeping areas, and basic ablution facilities.
- Profiling and support services – homeless individuals will be registered, assisted with obtaining identification documents, and linked to social services such as healthcare, substance abuse rehabilitation, and grant applications.
- Reintegration opportunities – access to skills development, employment support (including EPWP opportunities), and family reunification where possible.
- Lawful enforcement support – by offering alternative accommodation, the Centre will empower the municipality and law enforcement to act within constitutional and legal frameworks when clearing unlawful occupations.
Council has further resolved that I, together with the Office of the Executive Mayor, must now refine the details and logistics of the Centre. This includes identifying an appropriate site, securing funding, and engaging with key partners such as the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Social Development, SAPS, municipal law enforcement, and local NGOs.
The establishment of a Dignity Centre is not intended as a permanent housing programme, but rather as a structured, transitional intervention to restore dignity, provide immediate relief, and create pathways out of homelessness.
By adopting this motion, Council has acknowledged that homelessness in Matjhabeng requires urgent and coordinated action.
This resolution is proof that practical solutions are possible when the focus is placed squarely on serving the community.