Cape Town - The launch of South Africa’s first mobile wash service aims to bring dignity and hope to the homeless.
The wash bus, named “Nina Manzi”, meaning “mother of water”, has four hot water showers and four toilets, divided for male and female use. The project is a collaboration between Viva Con Agua, U-Turn and Baz-Art.
The initiative has been running since July in the Claremont area, and over time will move to Muizenberg and Mitchells Plain, and also aims to visit other key sites that are providing real solutions to the homelessness issue across the city.
“Homelessness has become an unavoidable reality in South Africa’s urban landscape, particularly in Cape Town. The reality of living on the street in South Africa paints a bleak picture, with affected individuals not only having to contend with hunger and the elements, but also with lack of access to basic sanitation due to scarce public amenities. Nina Manzi is kitted out with showering and ablution facilities (water, sanitation and hygiene) affirming the UN’s assertion that access to water is a basic human right and not a luxury reserved for those who have fixed accommodation,” said the organisations.
Those living on the street have been flocking to get their showers since the launch. Among them is a man who has been living on the street for 20 years.
“I stay by the river within Table Mountain and the water is so cold, some days you can’t handle it. I had to walk from Table Mountain just to have this shower. It has been such a long time since I have had a proper shower.
To walk around with the smell that we have is hectic, and I don’t think people understand the feeling of cleanliness.
Just because I am homeless, it does not mean I don’t want to shower. It’s just that facilities aren’t there. Today I feel revived and happy that there is a place where I can clean myself. It really means so much to have that shower,” he said.
There is a 15-minute limit per person and users are given soap, a towel, a face cloth and skin cream. Nina Manzi project manager Sisanda Henda said that when they launched the project some users had not showered in months, while others were unsure of how to use a shower.
Another integral part of the project’s success is the partnership with Cape Town’s U-Turn, a leading organisation that operates a phased programme that equips people with the skills to overcome homelessness.
Quinton Hess, who now works on the bus, said: “Sometimes we take so much for granted, and it brings me great joy to see how a simple shower in the morning can boost someone’s confidence. I have experienced many people who rely on Nina Manzi to freshen up in the mornings before they go out looking for work.”
Henda said one of the key areas they were working towards was attracting female users. The piloting phase revealed that fewer women used the wash than men.
“Collectively, we are looking at ways to make access to Nina Manzi easier for women. We’d love for the public to know that we have noted safety concerns and that’s why there’s separate access for women. “
Cape Times