25-06-2025
Homeless get more than warmth at shelter
Blankets were donated to 157 beneficiaries who also received soup servings at homeless hotspots in the CBD.
The Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD) (Northern Corridor), Tshwane metro, and Tshwane Homelessness Forum (THF),
recently held their Homeless Winter Warmer Campaign at the Kitso Lesedi Community Development (KLCD) men's shelter in Arcadia.
KLCD founder and CEO, Maki Tselapedi, said the campaign came to fruition after beneficiaries voiced their concerns about staying warm during winter.
'It's very cold and our people were complaining about it, so we pleaded with our regional DSD, and we're grateful that they heard us. They are looking for jobs and we are looking for another house for them because we are overflowing and we're talking to the city about that,' Tselapedi said.
She added that the NGO is looking forward to continuing the running of its programmes.
One of these is family reunification, an initiative that seeks to reconnect beneficiaries with their lost loved ones as well as prepare them for the working world.
She invited beneficiaries to air out their grievances during the session attended by KLCD, the Tshwane Metro, DSD officials, other NGOs and organisations.
KLCD chairperson Dr Refiloe Mabaso said the NGO had undergone hard times recently and credits strong faith, good management, and the beneficiaries for getting past them.
'There's an old saying which goes: 'When you want to walk fast, do it alone, when you want to do more, do it collectively'. So this is a collective effort from the DSD, Tshwane, fellow NGOs, staff members, and the beneficiaries. None of this would be possible if we didn't work together. It's not about us, it's about our beneficiaries, so let's get out there and help, instead of sitting around making speeches,' Mabaso said.
Remembrance Mokoena of the University of Pretoria's (UP) Faculty of Theology and Religion and the Pathways Out of Homelessness programme, spoke about the upcoming homeless count the institution and other partners hope to carry out soon.
'We understand the value of bringing data. We understand the value that we add; we're not just an institution looking to gain degrees and medals. I am a professional social worker, so I'm not interested in putting another degree on the wall; I am interested in improving the lives of our people.'
Mokoena said the first count in Tshwane was in 2022, and they plan to do one every year. 'We're not just counting to say there are 20 homeless people. We need to present the trials they are facing, how their mental health is, and the resources and interventions they need.'
She said they intend to conduct a pilot run by the end of July and then test their methodology, and by the end of October, they aim to conduct a full count of all seven regions.
Social work manager from the DSD's Northern Corridor's Homeless Programme, Joyce Buthelezi, said the day came about as there was a need expressed by KLCD.
'As the department, we saw it fit that for this 2025/26 financial year, let us heed the call made by our NGOs. The purpose of our being here is to make sure that the blankets are given to the most vulnerable who are in need,' Buthelezi said.
Two beneficiaries gave their testimonials on how the shelter has assisted them in getting their lives back on track.
Mochidi Matthews Mailula said that after graduating from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Operations Management, his life took an unexpected turn: he became homeless and wandered the streets of the city.
'It was the most difficult time of my life. Then a light shined in the darkness, called the Kitso Lesedi Homeless Shelter, located here in Arcadia. It became my place of hope. I'll never forget the warm welcome I received from social workers who introduced me to life here.'
Mailula said the shelter provided him with accommodation, 'making sure I had a safe place to sleep and rest. They gave me regular meals, cared for my health and ensured I stayed clean but above all, it gave me back my humanity, confidence and sense of purpose'.
Seboeng Stoffel, another beneficiary, said that before Kitso Lesedi, his life was not going well, he was struggling with substance abuse, and he had no idea where the next meal would come from.
'Before we came here, life wasn't easy, we were sleeping on the streets. I met one of the social workers in Sunnyside one day who told me about this place and I decided to stop by. We wandered the streets without food, we didn't even have IDs, but since we came here, we've been helped a lot. Even today I'm working, so I'm grateful.
Stoffel said sessions like Drug and Substance and Family Reunification have helped a lot, because they connected him with his family.
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