Thread by @NdifunaUkwazi

This is the cynic's guide to making Cape Town the greatest city in the world!

1. Law Enforcement must take charge of this city. Indiscriminately fine the homeless - especially in winter - as it will fundamentally deter more homeless from living in the inner city;

2. Increase Law Enforcement officers because crime = homelessness = crime. Lets not pay attention to other areas in our City where shootings and murders take place, because that is a National SAPS matter.

3. Ensure members of the public regularly see Law Enforcement randomly search and seize property from the homeless to reinforce their belief that homelessness is a criminal choice;

4. Safety and security have little to do with changing behaviour. Lets invest in punishing people and criminalising them, rather than understanding what causes crime, and tackling inequality;

5. Lets protect the inner city from ‘others’. It's our prized jewel for international tourists and investors, locals better behave when they come here.

6. Building and managing shelters is so complicated and has so many procedures. It is even more difficult to support other organisations that have the skills to address homelessness. And as the greatest city, we must ensure we are seen to be compliant first, and ...

..solving issues later. So rather than risk the red tape, just ‘fine’; at least then we are seen to doing something!

Seriously, what is a fine going to solve? Where are the holistic solutions? Where is the increase in drug rehabilitation centres? Where is second-phase housing that comes after living at a shelter?

Why could money channelled into ramping up the security response not be put toward evidence-driven peer support programmes to journey with those on the street until they are rehomed?

The @CityofCT “Safe Spaces” are just fenced off car-ports with pallets to sleep on - far from the description of dignified shelter.

Why is the City resorting to the last rung of people management, which is to instil fear in people who live on the streets.

Was this not the modus operandi of the Apartheid government? Frightening people who live on the street with the strong-arm of the law is a cheap shot.

#housing #homelessness #land4peoplenot4profit