DEPARTMENT AND PARTNERS VISIT HOMELESS HOTSPOTS IN LAUDIUM

By Sipho Ncube

• A coordinated multi-partner intervention brought psychosocial services, GBV support, substance use assistance and shelter referrals directly to homeless hotspots.
• Individuals like Aaron Nkosi and Thabiso Molekane took steps toward shelter placement and family reunification.
• Collaboration between the Department and local NPOs strengthened access to holistic care and reintegration pathways.

On Tuesday (17 February, 2026), the Gauteng Department of Social Development, together with numerous Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) operating in the homelessness sector, conducted a coordinated outreach to several hotspots in Laudium, West of Tshwane, to offer a basket of services to vulnerable individuals.
The outreach brought essential services directly to people experiencing homelessness, including substance use support, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) assistance, psychosocial counselling, family reunification services and access to Drop-In Centre programmes. Officials also facilitated referrals for meals, skills development opportunities and assistance with Identity Document (ID) replacement.
Speaking at one of the hotspots, Departmental Social Worker Maria Makhafula said, “The purpose of this outreach programme is to share information about the services rendered by the Department in partnership with different NPOs to people experiencing homelessness and those struggling with substance use.”
Among those assisted was 53-year-old Aaron Nkosi, originally from Middelburg in Mpumalanga, who currently lives near Laudium Shopping Centre. Nkosi expressed renewed hope after volunteering to be referred to a men’s shelter — an important first step toward stabilising his circumstances.
Before being referred to a local clinic, a prerequisite for shelter admission, Nkosi reflected on his journey: “At my age, I need a shelter because soon I will need to reunite with my family back home. I came to Gauteng in 1984 in search of employment. I worked for many years, but after losing my job I survived on piece jobs until I was told I was too old to work.”
The outreach also engaged younger individuals seeking a pathway out of homelessness. Eighteen-year-old Thabiso Molekane from Soshanguve shared his determination to rebuild his life and reconnect with his family.
“Soon I will be heading home, as I’ve had enough of being homeless. I need to change my life before it is too late. I still have my family, and I hope they will take me back,” he said.
Hotspots visited included Laudium Shopping Centre, Itireleng Informal Settlement, Jakaranda, and Rosina Park. Participating partners included Laudium Child Welfare, Lerato Ke Lethabo, Kitso Lesedi Community Development, Thandanani Drop-In Centre, Youth for Survival, Tshimologo Care Centre, as well as officials from the Department’s Intake and Field Services.
The Department emphasised that coordinated outreach initiatives remain a critical intervention in linking vulnerable individuals to sustainable support systems, while strengthening collaboration between government and civil society partners.