This is one example of a few identified mentally unstable homeless individuals the CIDC Fieldworkers interact and deal with on a continuous basis.
Sifiso Sanadla, age 35, has been living on the streets for the past 10 years. He has been taken to Groote Schuur Hospital by the CIDC in partnership with the SAPS and Law Enforcement on numerous occasions for psychiatric treatment.
The CIDC’s Fieldworkers traced his sister in Phillipi, who gave him accommodation, but after a few months he returned back to the streets of Claremont. This is an ongoing cycle that has repeated itself on numerous occasions over the past few years.
Last year he was admitted to Valkenberg Hospital and according to the Doctor who was overseeing him, he is not aware of his condition.
On Friday, 8 July 2022, with the assistance of Social Crime Officer, Warrant Officer Chetty and Constable Zondo, the CIDC once again transported him to Groote Schuur Hospital for a 72 hour observation, in the hope that he will be retained for further medical and psychiatric treatment.
As there is no long-term care or assistance for these individuals, this is the repeat cycle the CIDC fieldworkers have to follow:
- Transport a homeless individual who displays signs of mental instability to Groote Schuur Hospital for observation, where hopefully they will be transferred to a psychiatric institution
- Often they are discharged after a 3 month period, along with their daily medication and follow up appointment dates
- Upon discharge the individual seems fine until he/she stops taking their medication and refuses follow up appointments
- Sometimes they arrive back on the streets immediately after they have been discharged in a fairly good mental state. Other times they arrive a few weeks after discharge and are already showing signs of mental instability
- They are closely monitored by the CIDC Fieldworkers and as soon as their mental state seems out of hand, they are transported back to hospital for an assessment, whereby the cycle repeats itself.