The Gauteng Social Development MEC, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi accompanied by her counterpart in the City of Johannesburg, Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Health and Social Development, Eunice Mgcina interacted with homeless people in different shelters around Johannesburg with the aim of ensuring that they receive the necessary support beyond lockdown.
A number of homeless people were removed from the streets of Johannesburg and taken to various  shelters after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national lockdown in bid to control the spread of coronavirus.
Mokgethi's visit to Joburg follows similar visits to shelters in Ekurhuleni last week that saw her bringing together various stakeholders to give support to the homeless.
MEC promised to contact and re-unify some of the homeless beneficiaries with their families if they still want to go back home.
"You are not going to exit here without getting an adequate skill. What is important for us is to make sure that when you go back home, you are able to bring something for your families."
"We understand that most of you became homeless because you were unemployed and couldn't contribute to your family's wellbeing. Some were on drugs, so that is why our social workers are here to provide support and refer you to skills development centres and rehab centres," said Mokgethi.
Mgcina applauded the No 3 Kotze Street Shelter in Hillbrow for starting a food garden project and encouraged others to emulate this shelter which has about 155 beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries were given an opportunity to ask questions or make comments. Among the things they wanted information on was how to apply for government housing, whether a clinic can be built within a shelter, how can one be afforded privacy at a shelter and what opportunities were there for recovering drug
addicts?
A service delivery blitz was also conducted at various homeless shelters to afford them an opportunity to access services offered by the Gauteng Provincial Government and its agencies. The blitz were held at shelters around the Johannesburg Region.