Trollies and debris lie scattered beneath a tree atop Hardwick Street Bridge, mere steps from the roadway, where a small red sign dangles from a branch, proclaiming, “Santa, Stop here!” This scene confronts motorists entering Newcastle’s CBD, serving as a stark reminder of the homeless community’s presence amidst the daily bustle of local life.
In July 2024, the Newcastle Municipality formally enacted bylaws prohibiting the erection of shelters on municipal property, which includes the land beneath the bridge.
Additionally, these regulations expressly forbid begging, an activity some individuals residing under the bridge continue to engage in.
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Nearly a year on, these individuals persist undeterred, continuing their daily routines. Addressing the issue, Newcastle Municipality’s Councillor Bertie Meiring highlighted insufficient law enforcement as a key factor undermining the bylaws’ effectiveness, a challenge echoed in cities like Cape Town, where, according to The Borgen Project, homelessness costs taxpayers R77 million annually for shelter programs.
According to Statistics South Africa’s 2022 Census, with 55,719 homeless individuals nationwide, direct shelter costs could exceed R300 million annually, while, according to U-turn Homeless Ministries, indirect costs like emergency healthcare and policing significantly inflate the total burden.
“The Municipality has raided the bridge on numerous occasions, removing these unfortunate people, but the problem is that like with the illegal dumping, urinating in public, as much as the Newcastle Municipality tries to implement the bylaws, residents also need to be aware of the bylaws and work with it,” emphasised Cllr Meiring.
Examining the issue holistically, Cllr Meiring pointed to an often-overlooked flaw in the bylaws’ enforcement framework, particularly regarding penalties. He explained that when residents construct structures beyond their property boundaries and fail to dismantle them as directed, the resulting legal proceedings burden the Municipality with substantial costs. “Cases such as that could cost the Municipality millions,” stressed Councillor Meiring, noting that these funds could be better allocated to essential service delivery.
Against the backdrop of rising municipal costs, Cllr Meiring cautioned that, despite the generosity of their intentions, individuals who provide items to those at traffic lights and intersections face fines under the bylaws.
In conclusion, the persistent homelessness crisis, exemplified by Newcastle’s bridge dwellers, imposes a heavy financial toll on South African taxpayers. As previously stated, according to Statistics South Africa and The Borgen Project, shelter programs alone may cost over R300 million annually nationwide, with Newcastle’s legal battles, potentially costing millions per Cllr Meiring, adding to the strain. Additionally, indirect costs from healthcare and policing further escalate this burden, underscoring the need for robust bylaw enforcement and resource redirection to address root causes effectively.
Addressing this challenge demands innovative solutions beyond punitive measures. According to U-turn Homeless Ministries, investing in permanent housing could reduce costs significantly, as seen in Cape Town’s Safe Spaces initiative. By fostering community compliance with bylaws and redirecting legal funds to preventive programs, municipalities like Newcastle can alleviate the financial and social strain, ensuring resources enhance service delivery and offer sustainable pathways out of homelessness.
What are your thoughts on the above? Do you beleive that a more permant solution, like housing and a job program, would aid in this issue? Share your views in the comment section below.
3 Responses
The vagrants have also started taking over Trim park by the play ground as well as under the trees by the pump station. They should be removed. Government should stop bying cars and work ons shelters. We don’t know where our tax monies are going these days. But with the vagrants popping up in town, the crime rate is climbing day by day.
Many years ago my late husband offered a person begging for money at the robot by Dr van Niekerk’s rooms. The man had a board up saying that he had no job, no food and four children to feed.
My late husband offered him a job at his place of employment. This man said no thanks, I make more money by begging.
This makes me wonder if employment was offered to these vagrants, would they accept or prefer begging 🤔🤔🤔
Surely the Municipality owns land on which RDP houses can be built to accommodate the homeless. Even if a temporary corrugated structure can be supplied till RDP houses can be built. Some of these oeople can be given jobs to build the infrastruc.ture for these areas.