By Anita Dangazele
The Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (Dawn) marched in Gqerbha on Thursday and handed a letter to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to ask help for homeless women and children in the metro.
Dawn leader Nomvano Zibonda said there are about 4,000 homeless people in the city, many of them women and children.
She said during the march that problems like violence, joblessness, and poverty make it worse for women and children forced to live on the streets.
The Eastern Cape has the highest unemployment rate in the country, calculated at 42.9% in April.
“Women leave their homes to escape violence but face the same dangers on the streets. We are suggesting ways for the city to help stop this cycle of violence,” Zibonda said.
She said there is a need for more shelters for women and children.
“Women deserve dignity, even if they are homeless. They shouldn’t have to undress in front of men because there aren’t enough facilities,” she said.
A homeless mother in Gqeberha Central said she moved from Keiskammahoek in 2019 to find a job but ended up on the streets.
“Life on the streets is hard for women. Men take advantage of us. We need shelters just for women,” she said.
NMBM council speaker Eugene Johnson accepted the letter and said the metro plans to turn unused buildings into shelters.
“We are checking old buildings to see which can be used as shelters,” Johnson said.
Pictured above: The Democratic Alliance Women’s Network marching against homelessness in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Source: Anita Dangazele
