NGO says hygiene a key priority for new mobile showers for homeless in Gauteng

JOHANNESBURG - A non-profit organisation tasked with operating the new mobile showers for homeless people in Gauteng has vowed to prioritise hygiene. 

The Gauteng Social Development Department launched the project on Friday, with several homeless people in attendance to use the service.

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A Pretoria-based organisation, PEN (Participate, Envision, Navigate), says it will keep the showers clean and prevent them from becoming a health hazard.

PEN says the showers might spread diseases because they will be used by different people.

To prevent this, the organisation said the showers would be cleaned after every use, and the towels provided would be thoroughly washed. 

PEN leader Katleho Ncaphe says there will also be a screening process. 

"You see this unit is not capacitated in terms of the UVC light. This is the light that catches reactive TB. We start with a screening, so if someone has reactive TB, this doesn't become a hazard."

Ncaphe says there will also be security where the mobile showers will be parked to ensure the safety of its users, especially women.