As part of the Qalakabusha Intervention Programme, where the Municipality aims to eliminate vagrancy, loitering and drug-abuse from the Albert Park area, various intervention strategies have been identified. Over the next few days Municipal officials will visit various areas where they will interact with the people at the park and find out what their social needs are.
The Qalakabusha Intervention Programme is part of the Clean My City Campaign aimed at addressing social ills that exist in the Albert Park area in order to make it safer, cleaner and more attractive.
Yesterday, 26 March 2014, approximately 300 people were visited at King Dinizulu Park (they had fled from Albert Park). Officials established that about 61 people require identity documents, 70 are willing to be admitted to rehabilitation centers, 70 require counseling services and 38 would like to be re-united with their families. They all indicated that they would like to receive assistance with skills development.
The interaction sessions will culminate into a One Stop Intervention Programme where all required services will be brought to Albert Park. These will include social development, Home Affairs, Academic institutions, NGOs, legal and health services.
Earlier this year Mayor, Cllr James Nxumalo, and stakeholders signed a pledge committing themselves to working together to deal with the challenges at Albert Park and other parts of the city. Nxumalo emphasised that challenges of vagrancy, loitering, drug-abuse and criminal elements at Albert Park needed to be dealt with as a matter of urgency, as this was not only tarnishing the image of the City but also reflected the socio-economic challenges facing our society.
