By Rafaella Delle Donne
In the same week that thousands of blankets were distributed to shelters and charity organisations as part of GoodHopeFM's blanket drive, a homeless man claims his wife died of exposure after police took her blanket.
That's the third homeless person to die in and around the city in July.
Despite opposition from a number of non-government organisations including the Homestead, Sweat and The Big Issue, the new by-law on streets, public places and prevention of nuisances has begun to have a negative impact on destitute people living on Cape Town streets.
'Harassment is happening anyway' "The police just come here and take our blankets and tell us we must go," said a man who gave his name only as Rasta, who lived with the recently deceased Anna and her husband Elvison on Fort Wynyard Road behind the V&A Waterfront for 10 years.
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Pam Jackson, director of Ons Plek, a home for street children, says there is a long history of police harassment of homeless people.
"Harassment dates back to the apartheid era, but I fear the by-law has ushered in a new era of harassment."
Her sentiments were echoed by Sandra Morreira, director of the Homestead and chairperson of the Western Cape Street Children's Forum, which was part of the NGO task team that opposed the new by-law.
"Harassment is happening anyway. Our concern has always been that the intention of the by-law may be good but the problem comes when it is implemented," she said.
Although police spokesperson Inspector Bernadine Steyn confirmed that Sea Point Police conducted regular operations with other law enforcement agencies, she denied that blankets had been confiscated.
"During the past three weeks several integrated operations have been conducted and several people have been arrested for specific crimes, for example, trespassing.
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