 | Drakenstein Municipality opens Paarl overnight shelter as part of inclusive care strategy
09 July 2025 | Press Releases |
9 July 2025 In a bid to restore dignity and offer real solutions to homelessness, Drakenstein Municipality - in partnership with the faith-based outreach initiative CRC Cares and other community stakeholders - officially launched the Paarl Overnight Shelter on Tuesday, 8 July 2025.
The facility, which will initially accommodate 26 homeless individuals each evening, is more than just a shelter; it is a symbol of hope.
The opening symbolises the Municipality's efforts to create a safer, more inclusive community, especially for its most vulnerable residents.
The Paarl Overnight Shelter will provide essential services, including a warm meal, clean bedding, and access to basic support - offering a dignified and caring environment for those in need.
Speaking at the opening, Alderman Gert Combrink, Deputy Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, said: “This shelter is more than just a building - it is a beacon of hope. While addressing homelessness may not fall within our core mandate as a municipality, we are proud to have built the necessary infrastructure to meet this pressing need. We are especially grateful to have compassionate partners such as CRC Cares, who have willingly taken hands with us to serve our community."
CRC Cares will manage the shelter's daily operations, ensuring that every guest is treated with respect and dignity. Their involvement shows the essential role that civil society plays in advancing public welfare.
From crisis care to developmental support
The Paarl Overnight Shelter is part of Drakenstein Municipality's long-term vision to move from crisis care to developmental support. Future phases of the project will focus on expanding capacity and introducing developmental programmes aimed at helping individuals transition off the streets and into stable, productive lives.
Currently, Drakenstein Municipality has two established night shelters, the Paarl Night Shelter and the Wellington Night Shelter, both of which are undergoing revitalisation as part of a broader municipal strategy. There is a third shelter, The Haven Night Shelter in Paarl, which is funded by the Western Cape Government.
In his 2025/26 Budget Speech delivered in May this year, Councillor Stephen Korabie, Executive Mayor of the Municipality, said funding had been allocated for upgrades to the Paarl and Wellington night shelters as well as the expansion of the Municipality's Soup Kitchen Programme, including new kitchens in under-resourced wards.
“These efforts represent more than infrastructure," the Executive Mayor noted in his speech. “They symbolise our shared values of care, solidarity, and human dignity."
CAPTIONS:
- Alderman Gert Combrink, Deputy Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, delivers the keynote address at the opening of the Paarl Overnight Shelter.
- Members of CRC Cares with Mayoral Committee Members and officials inside the Paarl Overnight Shelter.
- The official launch of the Paarl Overnight Shelter.
Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
About Drakenstein Municipality
Located an hour's drive from Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, Drakenstein Municipality is one of the country's most financially sound, well-governed, stable and sustainable municipalities. The Municipality has been rated South Africa's number one secondary city and has, since 2011, achieved 10 clean audits. Boasting the largest economy in the Cape Winelands, Drakenstein is home to 311 601 residents and includes the historic Winelands towns of Paarl and Wellington.
Embodying its vision of “a city of excellence", the Municipality prides itself on providing its residents, businesses, investors and visitors with excellent services and well-maintained, advanced infrastructure. As Southern Africa's first self-declared Fair Trade City and the fourth in Africa, Drakenstein Municipality is serious about building a sustainable future, and has garnered various awards for its commitment to sustainable and environmentally conscious practices. Drakenstein is also recognised for having one of the highest growth potentials in the Western Cape. As a progressive business and investment region and a city geared for growth, it constantly attracts new development.
For more, visit https://www.drakenstein.gov.za/ or follow the Municipality on Facebook at @DrakensteinMunicipality, Instagram at @drakensteinmunicipality, LinkedIn at Drakenstein Municipality and YouTube at @DrakensteinMunicipality1.
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