The non-profit organiation MES held a World Homeless Day event on Friday 10 October at their Durbanville Centre.
The event was for the community to come together to raise awareness about homelessness, highlight challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness, and explore ways they can work collectively toward meaningful solutions. Many homeless people mostly struggle with drug abuse. The event was attended by the police, hospice and other members of the community.
MES is a registered not-for-profit company (NPC) that has been changing the hearts of the inner cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Kempton Park, South Africa since 1986.
They are building thriving urban communities with access to effective and efficient pathways out of poverty and homelessness.
Encouraging others
They drive essential social change aimed at solving systemic poverty and homelessness. Anita Momberg, a finalist for Mrs South Africa 2025, following her appearance as a finalist in the 2023 competition, was one of the guest speakers at the event.
Anita is a real estate and bond origination entrepreneur from Kuils River who is also a foster mother and advocate for foster care and breast cancer awareness. The children she’s fostering is her brother’s children. This happened after he and his partner were struggling with drug abuse and became homeless. She shared the testimony of Natasha Swanepoel, her sister-in-law, and her road to recovery. Anita mentioned that Natasha was part of a programme similar to the one of MES. She emphasised how important these programmes are. For her these programmes are amazing as she describes Natasha as a beacon of hope. Anita believes in second chances, as for herself who entered the beauty pageant now for the second time.
For someone who was once a drug addict and homeless, Natasha is now thriving in her environment, and also being the prime example of a mother, according to Anita. Natasha is now rehabilitated, working full time and applied for custody over her children.
“She is living proof that your past does not define your future,” added Anita.
Chances
Earle Jansen, Safe Space manager, as well as centre manager, mentioned that some of their clients came back for more than one or two occasions. He highlighted that their purpose is all about giving people second changes.
“It’s all about not giving up. No one was born homeless. Each and every one that is currently on the street did have a home, a family and loved ones that cared for them. It’s just unfortunate that circumstances happened.”
Another testimonial was that of Nazeem Davids, recovering drug addict. He shared the story of how his father’s abuse caused him to use drugs since the age of 16. In 2023 he found himself homeless in the streets of Bellville and said he died a spiritual death.
He shared how these programmes changed his life and how he committed himself to God. Nazeem is now a caretaker at MES. If you have any questions or require any information about MES, reach out to them at 074 542 2457 or 068 124 3239.
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