Homeless people in Stellenbosch could face fines of up to R500 for sleeping on the street after the Stellenbosch Council recently approved fines for contravening the Roads and Streets By-Law.
This was confirmed by Stuart Grobbelaar, spokesperson for Stellenbosch Municipality, who added that the Roads and Streets By-Law’s Delegations and Admissions of Guilt Fines were approved by the council on 23 February and will be implemented with immediate effect.
The Stellenbosch Council recently approved the Delegations and Admission of Guilt Fines which imposes fines for various road-related offences, including sleeping on the street. PHOTO: Andrea de Lilly
According to this by-law, fines will be imposed for various road-related offences, including sleeping, overnighting or erecting a shelter on any street, sidewalk, walkway or public place. Offenders will be fined R500.
While the fines were only recently approved, the council approved the by-law in 2021, explained Grobbelaar. This was following a public participation process, where the community was able to provide their input on the decision. Grobbelaar added that the adoption of the fines will put Section 43 of the by-law, which states that all persons convicted of a crime are liable to a fine, into practice.
Grobbelaar explained that the by-law and fines do not directly address homelessness and that the municipality has introduced initiatives with the aim of alleviating homelessness.
The municipality’s solution
According to Grobbelaar, the municipality has partnered with the Stellenbosch Night Shelter to tackle the issue of homelessness. This partnership began in 2018 with the Stellenbosch, Give Responsibly campaign, where a coupon system was adopted.
Homeless individuals can use these coupons to receive a plate of food, a blanket or to spend a night at the shelter.
According to the night shelter’s manager, Denise Paulse, there has been a “steady decrease” in homeless people who have been in Stellenbosch for a while who go to the shelter.
According to Denise Paulse, Stellenbosch Night Shelter manager, students and residents can buy shelter tickets on behalf of homeless individuals to assist them financially. The night shelter can be found in Tennant Street. PHOTO: Andrea de Lilly
The homeless community’s reality
Individuals need to be sober, in possession of an ID and must pay an admission fee of R8 in order to be admitted to the shelter, according to the shelter’s admission criteria which can be found on its website.
But some individuals from the homeless community felt that the by-law left them with little options.
“I can’t go to the night shelter, I haven’t got an ID. So, where should I go?” said Steven Oswald, a former mechanic who claims that he is homeless due to a scarcity of job opportunities in Stellenbosch.
“I feel like they are trying to get rid of us,” said David Peterson, a 67-year-old man who has been sleeping on the streets of Stellenbosch for nearly 8 years. Peterson was shocked by the news of the potential fines he might face. “If Stellenbosch wants me out [of] here, then I’ll go out. If they want to give us fines for sleeping in the street, I’ll just leave.”
“I’ve got to beg and it’s not nice. People probably think I’m just a bum from the streets,” said Steven Oswald (58), who has been sleeping on the streets for nearly six years. PHOTO: Andrea de Lilly
However, Grobbelaar stated that “[Stellenbosch’s] streets, sidewalks and other public spaces belong to all residents and must be regulated spaces that are safe, clean, hygienic, and conducive to economic activity”.