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SAFER CITIES & ITRUMP UNIT

Learn about the social development programme focusing on drug abuse and homelessness challenges in Durban, including interventions and strategies for a safer community. Explore the impact of drugs and homelessness on urban settings and the collaborative approach to address the issue effectively.

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SAFER CITIES & ITRUMP UNIT

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  1. SAFER CITIES & ITRUMP UNIT Durban Hackathon 25 May 2015

  2. VISION Our City, Our Safety, Our Responsibility

  3. FOCUS AREAS • Social Crime Prevention • Community Involvement in Safety • Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design • Research, Crime Mapping and Analysis

  4. Drugs and Homelessness • Drugs and homelessness is not unique to the eThekwini Municipality. • It’s a global phenomenon that confronts all developing cities as a result of: • rapid urbanisation • Poverty • Unemployment • compounded by dysfunctional households, absent mothers, abuse , lack of accommodation and overcrowding.

  5. Challenges experienced by the City • illegal occupation of public open spaces and abandoned buildings • damage to infrastructure • poorly managed distribution of food by NGOs • begging on streets and at intersections • public intimidation • the sale of drugs • petty crime • prostitution

  6. Survey of the homeless community addicted to drugs • A majority were youth (under the age of 35) • A majority were South African citizens • 75 % were school leavers (below grade 12) • 1% had a tertiary qualification • 24% had matric • The ratio of males to females was 4:1

  7. Whoonga is the a popular drug: its cheap, highly addictive and has a dilapidating effect both mentally and physically as it reduces the cognitive ability to think • More than 80% wished to be reunited with their families. Others preferred the street life.

  8. Means of survival: begging from the streets, stealing, soup kitchen, car guarding, cardboard and scrap metal collection, temporary work, taxi conductors, shoe repairs whilst women depend on their partners or resort to prostitution common skills that exist amongst the respondents: plumbing, carpentry, panel beating, welding, electronics, computer repairs, teaching, hair dressing, performing arts and general labour.

  9. The eThekwini Municipal area suffers a large population of a homeless community. This, coupled with a high rate of drug users and criminal activity has forced the City to prioritise its intervention strategies in dealing with drugs and its relation to homelessness This led to the formulation of the Qalakbusha (new beginnings) Intervention Programme.

  10. Qalakabusha Intervention Programme • Is a social development programme that has been put into place to deal with the drug problem and the resultant homelessness plagued by the City

  11. 7 Point Intervention Strategy • Outreach and Reception • Psychosocial Support and Screening • Treatment and Rehabilitation • Skills Development, Sports Development, Life Skills and Entrepreneurial Skills Development • ID registration • Reunification and reintegration • Shelters and Halfway houses

  12. Conclusion • This intervention strategy requires the holistic approach of a multidisciplinary team comprising: Dept of Social Development, Academia, Health Services, NGO’s, Faith Based Organisations, working in cohesion. • There is no quick fix solution • Although this intervention strategy yields minimal positive results, it is effective and sustainable

  13. THANK YOU

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