---
title: "Proposed site for Muizenberg homeless shelter ‘could affect tourism, economic activity’"
description: "City of Cape Town says there is a desperate need for shelters, but no decision has been taken yet."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "GROUNDUP"
author: "Ashraf Hendricks"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/ashraf-hendricks/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-07-17-proposed-site-for-muizenberg-homeless-shelter-could-affect-tourism-economic-activity/"
published: "2024-07-17T17:23:52"
updated: "2024-07-17T17:23:55"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 430
---

# Proposed site for Muizenberg homeless shelter ‘could affect tourism, economic activity’

> City of Cape Town says there is a desperate need for shelters, but no decision has been taken yet.

By Ashraf Hendricks · Published 17 July 2024, 19:23 SAST · Updated 17 July 2024, 19:23 SAST

## Key points
- Muizenberg parking lot proposed as site for new City of Cape Town Safe Space shelter, sparking concerns about tourism impact and need for public consultation, as City explores options to address homelessness crisis.
- Muizenberg parking lot proposed as site for new Safe Space shelter with at least 60 beds, in partnership with U-turn welfare organisation.
- Subcouncil 19 approves transfer of parking lot to create transitional shelter for homeless individuals, supported by various City directorates.
- Muizenberg Improvement District expresses concern over shelter location impacting tourism and economic activity, calls for public participation process.
- City of Cape Town spokesperson emphasises need for shelters across the city, cites High Court ruling on shelter locations close to where homeless individuals earn income.

## Content

A parking lot in Muizenberg has been suggested as the site of the City of Cape Town’s new [Safe Space shelter.](https://groundup.org.za/article/new-shelter-for-homeless-people-to-open-in-muizenberg/) The 1,141m² property is located in Sidmouth Road, close to the popular Surfers’ Corner beach, restaurants and surf stores. The shelter, which will be run in partnership with welfare organisation U-turn, will have at least 60 beds.

At a meeting on 15 July, subcouncil 19, which includes Muizenberg, approved a [proposal](https://groundup.org.za/media/uploads/documents/muizenberg-19sub100724.pdf) from the City’s property management department that the parking lot be handed over from the Safety and Security directorate to the Community, Arts and Culture directorate. The plan is to create a Safe Space “designed to provide dignified transitional shelter and extensive social interventions aimed at helping homeless individuals move away from life on the streets”.

The transfer has also been approved by other directorates, according to City of Cape Town spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo.

In a [statement](https://mailchi.mp/mid/july-2024-muizenberg-safe-space-public-statement-from-the-mid-board), Simon Roberts, the chairperson of the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID), said the MID supported the shelter but was concerned about the proposed location as it could affect tourism and economic activity.

“This is the last available A-grade erf that can be developed to enhance our area,” he said. He said the MID wanted a full public participation process before a location was chosen.

“The public have not been informed, educated or consulted on this,” he said.

Tyhalibongo said a final decision had not yet been taken.

**Read more:**[Families evicted in 2011 to make way for mall still waiting for promised homes](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-07-09-families-evicted-in-2011-to-make-way-for-mall-still-waiting-for-promised-homes/)

He said the City noted the concern about the economic impact shelters could have, but “there is a desperate need for shelters across the city, including in Muizenberg, in order to accommodate people who have taken up occupation in many of our public places, including under bridges and in the Muizenberg Park”.

He said the Western Cape High Court had said shelters should be located close to where the people involved earned an income, “and this constrains the choice of locality for suitable shelter space in the city to ensure that our homeless persons are offered a suitable path out of homelessness and off the streets”.

Tyhalibongo said U-turn would be entitled to apply to lease this site, and if the City considered the application, the lease would be advertised for public comment. **DM**

*First published by*[*GroundUp*](https://groundup.org.za/article/possible-site-for-muizenberg-homeless-shelter-sparks-alarm/)*.*

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