Cape Town's Plan To Clean Up Homeless

The city of Cape Town has released a plan to address its homelessness, focusing on providing housing, supplying jobs and reuniting homeless people with their families. This plan was announced with just 34 days left before the start of the World Cup.

Armed with more than 1 000 disposable razors, 6 000 bars of soap, 6 000 toothbrushes, 4 000 tubes of toothpaste and 1 000 blankets, the city is also to make sure the people are clean and well groomed for the duration of the programme. It will also create 600 temporary jobs to assist vulnerable people with the reintegration process, paying them R40 a shift. And for the first time, the city has set up a homeless people operation centre that will co-ordinate all activities and function after normal working hours.

City unveils 2010 for homeless
Cape Times
May 7, 2010

Homeless and Poor Relocated Ahead of World Cup

Thousands of poor and homeless residents in South Africa's World Cup host cities are allegedly being relocated from the streets and out of sight of cameras and tourists during the tournament.

The country's three major cities - Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban - have already started relocation programs, while six remaining host cities are set to follow suit.

Reports allege that more than 800 people have been taken from the derelict area surrounding Ellis Park in Johannesburg, the venue of seven matches including a quarter-final, and moved to shelters away from the inner city. There are also reported plans in place to see another 1,500 people, mostly street children, moved to alternate housing.

South Africa street clean-up begins
ESPN
May 4, 2010

Homeless Being Pushed Out Of Cities Ahead of World Cup

More than 1,000 homeless South Africans are being moved out of Johannesburg and Cape Town ahead of the World Cup, angering human rights activists for sweeping the problem away instead of trying to solve it.

More than 800 tramps, beggars and street children have already been removed from Johannesburg and sent to remote settlements hundreds of miles away and in Cape Town, up to 300 have been moved to Symphony Way Temporary Relocation Area where 1,450 families are crammed into a camp designed for just 650 people.

The moves have happened in Cape Town and Johannesburg but it is believed that other host cities are also drawing up plans to tidy the streets. Johannesburg councillor Sipho Masigo confirmed it was a big problem but likened the actions to cleaning your house before you have guests.

Homeless South Africans getting moved out of major cities ahead of 2010 World Cup
World Cup 2010 South Africa
March 28, 2010

Street Children Play World Cup in Durban

Street children from around the world have been flown to Durban to participate in the "street kids World Cup". Organizers are hoping the event will highlight the persistent problem South Africa and other countries face when trying to deal with their homeless youth populations.

The teams are competing on a school campus in downtown Durban, with vuvuzela trumpets blowing in stands filled with wigs and faces painted in national colours. The tournament wraps up Sunday with a final and trophy for the winner.

During the Fifa World Cup, organisers of the children's event will set up a surveillance system to reduce the risk of street kids facing abuse during the month-long tournament, and to set up sports events to keep them off the streets.

Street kids stage own World Cup
Independent Online
March 19, 2010