South Africa’s Homeless Population

With a national unemployment rate of 25%, even more in some areas of South Africa, many people are homeless and do not have the finances to maintain a permanent place to live. During our walks in Cape Town we saw many people walking with shopping carts and backpacks containing their possessions making the streets their home. Numerous beggars have approached our group asking for money. Some have even tried to get us to come into grocery stores to purchase bread and milk for them. We do not know the specific reasons why they are homeless but through our studies, observations and work immersions we’ve pinpointed a few key factors that contribute to South Africa’s homeless population.

At my work immersion with the Cape Town Argus newspaper I was able to shadow a reporter while she interviewed Donald Grant, the Minister of Education for the Western Cape province. Grant mentioned that the education problems within South Africa contribute to the high rates of unemployment and homelessness. This year only 70% of high school students passed their matric exams, the exams that allow them to graduate and move on to higher education. Out of the students who continue to tertiary education only 25% will move on to their sophomore year while the rest drop out. Those who never continue their education or decide to drop out of with only their metric diploma face a difficult time getting a job and many will not become employed. Later in the day at my work immersion I traveled to Khayelitsha, a Cape Town black township. There the reporter interviewed five young people ranging in ages 21 to 27 who had their metric degree but have yet to find a job. These young people are extremely at risk of becoming unemployed and without the assistance of family members would be on the streets.

Although the apartheid movement has ended, during that time many people who had homes became homeless under the apartheid government rule. In Cape Town our class visited the District Six Museum, a museum showcasing the lives of the people who were forcibly moved out of their homes by the government and their neighborhood destroyed for white expansion. The destruction of District Six displaced thousands of families; black, white and coloured; all of whom became homeless. These people were offered meager compensation for their homes and were forced to start new lives in different areas farther from the city. These people had jobs and had paid for their homes but the government made them homeless.

Homelessness has played a firm role within South Africa’s past and present. Although the government is trying to combat it through education/employment reforms and government-paid housing, South Africa still has a long way to go in reducing its homeless population. However we’ve seen firsthand that South African people are resilient and resourceful. Many people will use their skills such as crafting and performing to make a living and provide a home for themselves and their families. Our class is looking forward to visiting more townships and schools this week to see teachers working firsthand to educate the children.