Twitter user across South Africa have been left unimpressed by the City of Cape Town’s stance on their homeless. The City said it would enforce by-laws that would see the homeless being fined up to R1,500 for obstruction.
In their defence, the city claims that the fines are a response to over 3000 complaints received from the public about “anti-social behaviour by street people”. The city also says it will complement the fines with re-integration programs which are underway.
However, most Twitter users have been left unimpressed and here are some of their reactions.
Wow @CityofCT are you actually freaking KIDDING ME! You can’t do anything about the homeless situation except try and fine them for keeping warm?! How about having a heart…? https://t.co/Bbkb6cWw0J
— GoodLuck (@Goodlucklive) July 2, 2019
Not only are the homeless people in Cape Town having to face the harsh conditions on the streets, they’ll now be punished for being homeless & expected to pay a fine of R1500
City says it isn’t targeting the homeless but… pic.twitter.com/ReYnmtwxe4
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) July 1, 2019
you are calling them homeless!yes!we know how they came tobe on the street and we are not sympathetic but livid!people who have tears,blood and corpses in their hands of theirown mothers and community members cannot enjoy our sympathies! https://t.co/0xb4byIVfb via @TimesLIVE
— TIM (@TIM10031663) July 3, 2019
In Cape Town they charge you R1500 for being homeless. #RainbowNation
— Spike Ganetsang (@GodfreyGanetsan) July 3, 2019
Cape Town wants to fine homeless people for sleeping on pavements? How they gonna pay?? Who came up with this dumb idea? pic.twitter.com/3kB5ZFnynb
— Tumi Selepe (@Ke_TumiSelepe) July 2, 2019
Wow, because it makes perfect sense to fine people for being poor and homeless – The DA is a joke.
Hefty fines for homeless people for obstructing pavements in Cape Town https://t.co/u09cKI9KdI (via )— Ashvir Jugthaw (@AJugthaw) July 2, 2019