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

2. Our City, Our Safety, Our Responsibility

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

4.  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.  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.  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.  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.  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.  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