The provincial government has abandoned plans to turn the old Tafelberg Creche site in District Six into a homeless shelter.
This was confirmed in a statement from the provincial Department of Social Development last Thursday.
Department spokeswoman Monique Mortlock-Malgas said the decision followed objections from District Six residents, and the money budgeted for the shelter would instead be used to provide more beds at various NGO-run shelters in the city and elsewhere in the province.
She described the District Six shelter proposal as a “promising initiative to address the increasing number of people living on the streets” but said the alternative approach would still benefit “an equal or greater number of homeless adults”.
The department unveiled plans for the shelter earlier this year (“Plan for shelter in D6,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, June 29) but was met with opposition from the District Six Civic Association (D6CA), the District Six Working Committee (D6WC), the Upper District Six Neighbourhood Watch (UD6NW), the Silvertree Rugby Club and the District Six Advocacy Group. And in July, those groups marched to the provincial legislature offices to hand over a memorandum of their objections to the department (“D6 groups march to oppose shelter plans,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, July 20).
The Tafelberg Creche was previously a clubhouse for the Silvertree Boys Club, a District Six youth group where members participated in boxing, netball, gymnastics and wrestling matches, and, during apartheid, it was home to the Silvertree Rugby Club.
D6CA chairwoman Asa Salie said they and other organisations had formed the Reclaim Silvertree steering committee to reclaim the building for the returning people of District Six.
She said the building had previously been known as the Silvertree Clubhouse and had been used as a sports venue for the youth, and she would like to see it used as such again for the development of the youth of today.
D6WC chairwoman Zahrah Nordien said she was glad the building would not be turned into a shelter.
“It can be a recreational centre for the youth again that can offer art classes, sport and many cultural activities.”
UD6NW chairman Igsaan Alexander said: “Our returning claimants have no amenities, no hall to have function, and there is no sport and recreation facility for our youth at the moment.”
“Silvertree Rugby Club chairman Rashied Combrink hailed the department’s decision as a victory for the community.
“As the objection was collectively supported by various institutions and amateur rugby clubs, Silvertree RFC wished to extend a heartfelt thank you to those that signed the petition and joined the handover to the City.”