Johannesburg's first point-in-time count has uncovered the extent and locations of homelessness in the city. The survey estimated around 2,100 people affected, mainly men from other parts of South Africa. Activists call for collaborative efforts to address the issue.
In a significant step toward understanding and tackling homelessness, Johannesburg—known locally as Jozi—conducted its inaugural standalone point-in-time count (PITC) last August. This single-night survey, led by Jozi My Jozi and its partners, observed 1,146 individuals sleeping or living on the streets, with an additional 960 reported through interviews and estimates, totaling about 2,100 people in pilot areas such as the central business district (CBD), Hillbrow, Linden, and nearby corridors.
The data highlighted uneven distribution, with concentrations around transport hubs, commercial areas, and abandoned buildings. Hillbrow had the highest visible number at 364, followed by Marshalltown, Ferreirasdorp, and Newtown. Most affected are men who are South African migrants from other provinces, with many having lived on the streets for over a year.
Nyeleti Magadze, a lawyer and social justice activist who recently assumed leadership of Jozi My Jozi’s social workstream, emphasized the complexity of the issue. “Homelessness is a big, complex space, and we need to deal with the issues from within,” she said. She referenced Section 26 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to adequate housing, adding, “We need to start from the inside, working with the people and for the people.”
Magadze advocates for building trust through engagement with those who have experienced homelessness. “These types of engagements require time and patience. The solutions are long-term in nature and there needs to be humility and empathy. Homelessness is not a crime,” she noted. Plans include a follow-up PITC this summer to capture seasonal shifts, as homeless individuals often migrate.
Broader solutions involve mental healthcare, drug rehabilitation, skills training, and daytime safe spaces offering essentials like showers and food. Magadze stressed alignment among the private sector, civil society, non-governmental organizations, the City, and government. The effort also addresses vulnerabilities among the elderly, orphans, women, and children in hijacked buildings, aiming for a city where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.