Driven by passion and a dedication to make a difference, Nelson Mandela Bay non-profit organisation, Mould Empower Serve (MES), embarked on an initiative to clean up St George's Park and evict vagrants occupying the clubhouses.
The NPO, together with local associations, councillors, and businesses, embarked on the cleanup campaign on Friday, as well as last week Friday.
Hundreds of homeless people have turned the park into their shelter, occupying the clubhouses and storage units, while some, out of desperation, sleep in the cemetery and turn the graves into their beds.
For years there have been cleanup operations and the homeless were chased away; however they always returned.
Residents feared visiting the park due to the high crime rate.
The recent eviction process coincided with the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup hosted at the stadium.
The cleanup created an opportunity for MES to spread its wings and reach out to the homeless with an offer for them to join their shelter.
MES manager Ronny Naude and volunteer Shaun Slabbert said their aim was to restore dignity to the homeless and make them feel valued again.
The NPO has been changing the hearts of inner cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Gqeberha, and Kempton Park.
It seeks sustainable solutions to poverty.
Slabbert said the ongoing initiative started with the bowling club, moved to the tennis court, and on Friday they were busy with the cemetery.
He said when called to help with the cleanup, they saw an opportunity to invite the homeless to join their shelter and be part of the restoration programmes.
“We are doing this out of our hearts. We take in the homeless, and invite them to participate in community work which pays them.
“They pay a fee to stay in the shelter,” he said.
He said at the shelter they offered beds, meals, and rehabilitation programmes.
“We are trying to get them to be work ready again, and for them to see value in themselves,” he said.
Naude said they also wanted to restore dignity to the grave site.
He said the homeless who joined them were offered a variety of programmes, including skills development, spiritual programmes and courses educating them about addiction.
“We are driven by a desire to help; however we would like to be on board with the municipality to form a partnership where employment is created and the initiative doesn't just end in cleanups,” he said.
Grateful Port Elizabeth Lawn Tennis Club president Hugh Hart said they had been on the verge of closing down as more than 100 people occupied their space.
The situation had become worse over the past three years.
“We are grateful for this initiative and hopefully it will make a difference,” he said.
“We were battling with constant vandalism and theft and people no longer wanting to visit.”
He said their club was the oldest in SA, and it was sad to see it in such a state.
“We have decided to try again, and hopefully the programme will work,” he said.
A 47-year-old recovering addict who used to sleep in the bowling clubhouse, said he had been homeless for four months.
“I once ended up on the street because I was heavy into heroin and suffered from epilepsy.”
He said it was through the grace of God working through the MES that he had survived and was progressing.
“I can see the benefits of the programme,” he said.
“I have been with them for three months and I would have never been able to do this by myself. I will be forever grateful.”
Ward 3 councillor David Hayselden said the cleanup was a successful initiative; associations and members of the public were coming in to assist.
“The park contains a large part of our history and heritage, and leaving it like that was disturbing.
“But I am grateful for all those involved in the cleanup,” he said.
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