​In the quest to restore dignity for the homeless people, the Gauteng Provincial Government led by MEC For Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mbali Hlophe unveiled mobile shower services for the homeless at Wembley Stadium in Turffontein. Scores of homeless people came in numbers to access several services on offer from various government departments and social partners.
The launch of the mobile showers is an expansion to already existing package of assistance to the homeless which include homeless shelters in regions, provision of daily meals for the homeless, social work services, link to skills development, substance abuse rehabilitation, family reunification and so on. The mobile service is in line with Pillar 1 of the Gauteng City Region Strategy on Street Adult Homelessness which is advocacy, awareness, and prevention of crisis and early intervention.
The service, which will go out to locations daily, will provide access to bathrooms, ablution facilities, laundry services and linking the homeless with other services such as access to shelters and social work interventions. The mobile services have separated showers and ablution facilities and an office. The wash trailer has 3 showers and 3 toilets which is 6m long, with estimated weight of 2800 kilograms and estimated office weight is 1800 kg.
The wash trailer and office will be towed by a vehicle to the identified homeless hot spots. The proposed locations for the service are parks, open areas, under bridges, and on streets where the homeless community sometimes reside. During the launch beneficiaries were linked with skills development and employment opportunities through the Department of Labour.
"The mobile showers will enable the Department to reach to the homeless for services in identified hotspots. Some homeless people who want to access our service do not know where to go, through these mobile services they will be able to access government and also allow government to collect data, so to respond adequately to their needs. Skills development and job placement are part of what we are encouraging", said MEC Mbali Hlophe.
Speaking at the launch Michael Rasebokoa, 25 who resides in Wembley Stadium Homeless Shelter in Turffontein he said he has acquired computer skills and job placement in the shelter. Rasebokoa, who is from Free State, holds a Business Administration qualification and has worked as a waiter in a restaurant. Unfortunately, his job ended, and he found himself homeless. It was a through a referral from one of the NPOs that he found himself in this shelter.
"I am grateful for the opportunities that Gauteng Department of Social Development has afforded me. The NPOs that are funded by the Department has made it possible for me to secure a job. Am currently working as Financial Advisor in Discovery Financial Services in Sandton."