Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Approximately 30 homeless Graaff-Reinet people, taken to the Alexander Laing Community Hall yesterday (27 March) as a Covid-19 prevention measure, are back on the streets.  

According to ward councillor Glenda Mackelina, she took a food donation to the hall shortly after 6pm yesterday, where the people thanked her, as they were very hungry. They also said they are glad to have a place to stay during lockdown.

However, shortly after, they chose to return to the streets of Kroonvale and surrounds.

The hall, identified as one of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality’s venues of safekeeping during the 21-day lockdown, was closed this morning, with a security guard standing in front. Medical personnel were also on the scene.

Corene Conradie, coordinator of the Gift of the Givers in Graaff-Reinet, was on the scene as the people were brought in by the police. She had a food donation with her, but this morning said Gift of the Givers will hold back on donations, awaiting the reopening of the place of safekeeping. “We will try to provide food and sanitary items on a daily basis,” Conrade added.

Mackelina said when all steps are in place to prevent people from leaving the hall again, people will be taken from the street again and be looked after.

Captain Bradley Rawlinson, spokesperson of the Graaff-Reinet SAPS, warned that people leaving their houses and walking on the streets [not to perform an essential task or to buy essential items at a store] will be taken to places of safekeeping.

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