Social Development
With reference to his reply to question 1 (subsection 2) of 4 October 2024:
- (a) Of the 36 department-funded shelters, how many received oversight visits in the past year to ensure compliance with the prescribed norms and standards, (b) after conducting oversight visits at those shelters, how many of them were found to be adhering to these norms and standards;
- whether his Department has tracked the implementation and outcomes of personal development plans compiled for shelter residents; if so, how many beneficiaries successfully exited shelters into employment or stable housing in the (a) 2023/24 and (b) 2024/25 financial years;
- whether his Department plans to increase the number of second-phase shelters (a) in the City of Cape Town or (b) elsewhere in the province; if so, what are the (i) relevant timelines and (ii) budget allocations;
- whether the “Safe Space” locations in the City of Cape Town are considered shelters; if not, why not; if so, do they have to comply with the norms and standards?
(1)(a) In light of the three-year funding cycle, all funded NPOs - including shelters - do not receive an oversight visit per year. However, 10 shelters received oversight visits during the 2024/25 financial year. Five shelters have been visited to date for the 2025/26 financial year. All shelters do have an annual pre-funding assessment with regards to their finance and governance.
(b) Shelters were found to be compliant with the norms and standards whilst they are provided with a Service Delivery Improvement Plan where support is needed in areas such as corporate governance, service delivery, external relations and sustainability.
(2) (a) 2023/24: 736
(b) 2024/25: 778
Total of 1514 Shelter service users have successfully been reunified with their families over the 2 financial years.
(3) In view of budget availability, the DSD will continue to sustain the current funding to the existing 36 shelters, while also potentially looking into funding the shelter expansions to existing The Haven Shelters which had undergone expansions through the City of Cape Town. These expansions increased their bedspace capacity (Retreat, Kensington, Wynberg and District Six).
(4) In the absence of legislation, DSD cannot comment on the Safe Space of the City, since it was an initiative of theirs. The Western Cape DSD has developed its own norms and standards for the shelters that our department funds. The COCT have their own Strategy for Street People and Policies to govern their safe spaces.
