​Rofhiwa Marubini
Gauteng MEC for Department of Social Development, Dr. Nomathemba Mokgethi has expressed her dissatisfaction with the living conditions at a homeless shelter on Struben Street in Tshwane on Monday, 28 September.
The shelter is one of the 24 temporary shelters in the area that housed the homeless people during the lockdown period. 
Speaking during the visit, MEC Mokgethi said: "Conditions here are appalling, dehumanizing and unsafe especially for senior citizens who are here."
She further said people at the shelter would be moved to other shelters for their safety and dignity. 
"The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has approved a plan that will ensure that our beneficiaries who are sheltered in dilapidated and shady buildings are moved to better equipped shelters.
"Those who wish to be reunited with their families will be assisted to do so and those who wish to embark on skills development programmes conducted by government will be given an opportunity to do so," she added.
The visit forms part of a departmental campaign aimed at implementing a strategy to ensure that beneficiaries receive sustainable options to survive beyond the national lockdown.
"The coronavirus outbreak has presented an opportunity that, together with the City of Tshwane we work together in improving these shelters," she added.
The visit is in partnership with other government departments such as Health, SASSA and Home Affairs and is intended at giving beneficiaries much-needed service to better their lives. 
In Tshwane, during lockdown level 5 there were 24 temporary shelters accommodating 1,800 homeless persons. As the lockdown levels and restrictions eased so did the number of temporary shelters and the number of beneficiaries.
The campaign has been rolled out in Johannesburg, West Rand, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng region.