Chapter Four: The Social Presence of the DCC in the City of Durban
4.8 The Place of Hope
The Place of Hope is located in the notorious Point Road and Pickering Street area in the Point precinct of the Durban inner city. This area has had the dubious distinction of being known as Durban's "red light district". A drive along these streets can be harrowing since various formerly surreptitious activities take place openly. Drug dealers boldly ply their trade, while young thugs fight over loot, gang members plan their next activities and pimps get regular feedback from their employees. Pickering Street in particular has been the home of countless "escort agencies" where sex workers of different ages and races walked the dangerous streets day and night.
Roger Naidoo founded the Place of Hope after he had personally battled with alcohol addiction. He was subsequently rehabilitated after he spent time in a
"Christian" rehabilitation centre. Since his recovery, Naidoo has believed that he should help others who were troubled by similar circumstances, for example people whose lives were threatened by addictions, rejection and failures.
Naidoo felt that he needed to locate his ministry in the inner city of Durban; thus he set out to find a suitable location. While visiting a certain inner city pastor, Naidoo's search for a place to offer his ministry came to an end. The pastor whom Naidoo had decided to visit was out of his office, viewing the vacant floors in a particular building in Pickering Street on that particular day. During
the man's inspection of the building, he had prayed for someone who could conduct a Christian ministry to take ownership of the building, as opposed to another escort agency being opened. When he returned to his office he found Naidoo waiting for him, and he believed that Naidoo was the answer to his prayer. He expressed his thoughts to Naidoo, who agreed to view the place and viewed the encounter with the pastor as a sign that he was meant to apply himself to a ministry for the rejected in a place that received little attention from the church. He then negotiated the lease of the vacant space.
Naidoo knew that he wanted to make a difference amongst the misunderstood and marginalised people in the city. As a recovered alcoholic, he felt drawn to the troubled and rejected members of society. Naidoo opened a facility called the "Place of Refuge" as a place where people who experienced trouble with addictions or who have been rejected by their families could receive encouragement, spiritual instruction and upliftment in a place where they could rest and recover in dignity.
Naidoo explained that God told him that his ministry should be associated with a
"non-denominational" church in the city of Durban. This led him to the DCC, which he believed was the non-denominational ministry to which he should align his ministry. After discussion with Fred Roberts and his son Llewellyn Roberts the DCC agreed to partner with Naidoo in the ministry and decided to buy the building that the ministry was located in. They eventually purchased it at what Naidoo calls a "miracle price" of R300 000. In February 2005 the formerly known "Place of Refuge" was dedicated by Fred and Nellie Roberts and opened as the "Place of Hope" (in keeping with the other social interventions of the DCC, for example the DCC Hope Centre Clinic).
After visiting the Place of Hope recently I was surprised to see that Pickering Street was no longer home to the many escort agencies that had previously rented space in the unkempt buildings. According to Naidoo this "clean-up" was a joint effort between the Place of Hope and the community police forum of
Durban's Point precinct. Pressure has been placed on landlords to tighten up, not letting building space to escort agencies.
The Place of Hope consists of three floors with a chapel, kitchen and waiting area on the bottom floor; an office and administration area on the second floor;
and an accommodation area on the third floor. The building is well maintained and is distinctly neater than the neighbouring buildings.
The Place of Hope is a ministry that desires to intervene in Durban's difficulties with street children, unemployed people, substance abusers and sex workers.
Naidoo together with Llewellyn Roberts from the DCC wishes to establish a home for street children and a place of refuge for women. Naidoo's goal is to establish a training centre, for people to become more aware of how to intervene in the "street problems" of Durban.
According to Naidoo the sex workers who were formerly neighbours of the Place of Hope often visited the ministry for advice, housing, food and clothing.
The kind of assistance they received ranged from counselling, care for their children, food and even shelter when needed. In recent years the sex workers in the area in question have included an increasing number of foreign women from across the African continent. Though Pickering Street has removed its escort agencies, the adjoining Point Road still plays host to numerous spaces for the sex industry. Sex workers who do make their way to the Place of Hope discuss the "disappointments" they have experienced in their lives. Naidoo explained that "the "ladies of the night" who did approach the Place of Hope for help told of broken marriage promises, joblessness, rejection and a host of different reasons for their eventual choices.
Naidoo described some sex workers as "bitter and cold" since they had sought help but were rejected and condemned by family, church and society. He notes that some sex workers came for assistance primarily for the sake of their children, who needed food and care. According to Naidoo some were open to
"receive ministry" or evangelism at the Place of Hope though this was not always the case. He described some sex workers' attitudes towards God and the church as being a "time-consuming process". This process referred to their need for immediate results in their lives, for example the immediate need for finances; they did not have the time to pray to God for money.
Naidoo, together with Llewellyn Roberts conducts, Sunday Street outreaches at different locations in the city, for example, The Workshop mall at the centre of the city, and various beach locations. These meetings attract small groups where individuals stop to listen momentarily or even stay for the full duration of the outreach. According to Naidoo, the responses from street outreaches are positive since people have "so many needs; they struggle with unemployment and are desperate for assistance". He notes the increase in the number of white people who are struggling with alcohol and unemployment. These white Durbanites sleep on the beaches of Durban, and are at risk with respect to HIV and other illnesses. Naidoo believes that the affirmative action policy of the government has led to the increase in the number of white people who are now homeless and addicted to a variety of substances.
The daily programme at the Place of Hope is as follows: 5 am "Rise and Shine";
6 am to 7 am morning devotion with Roger Naidoo; 7 am to 7.30 am Breakfast, 7.30 -10 am chores and miscellaneous. From 10 am to 12 noon Bible studies are conducted. Lunch is from 12 am -1 pm, rest or recreation from 1 pm to 5.30 pm. 6 pm supper; 7 pm Evening Devotion; 8 pm reading/rest. The Place of Hope conducts Sunday services at its Pickering Street location. Almost two hundred people attend. They comprise immigrants, and other inner-city inhabitants.
Occasional volunteers, who serve for limited periods, staff the Place of Hope.
Rehabilitated individuals also assist with daily chores at the Place of Hope. At present the Place of Hope does not maintain any sustained relationship with any social development organizations. Naidoo explained that he had met
several times with the Durban city council, and was even accorded the opportunity to speak to President Mbeki about the ever-growing number of street children. Naidoo discovered that no assistance from the government or the city management would be possible: he indicated that the ministry had applied for a municipal grant and financial aid; however the application was rejected. He believes that this is due to the Place of Hope being a distinctly
"faith based organisation". Naidoo therefore suggested that a closer alliance with the African National Congress might be of benefit to social organisations in the city. The challenges at the Place of Hope include increased financial assistance for further projects, and finding staff with subject matter expertise and the ability to be patient, and sympathize with the people who come for assistance.
Naidoo's theological motivation for participating in the recovery and rehabilitation ministry is based on the text in Matthew 25: 35-45:
3sfor I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 3DI was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." ^Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? JtAnd when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? j9And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?" 40And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43l was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me." 44Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?"
4iThen he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.
This text has constituted the primary inspiration for the work of Naidoo and the Place of Hope. He argues that there is a Biblical mandate to care for the poor and marginalised of society and firmly believes that ministry to those who are
outcast is a ministry "unto the Lord". He is a registered religious worker and regularly visits the Westville prison (west of Durban) to advise and encourage inmates. Naidoo commented that "the time in which we live is filled with great physical need not only spiritual needs". He explained that Jesus also took care of physical needs and asserted that he believes that the church must lead, in the area of caring for peoples' needs. According to Naidoo, "the government needs to see what the church is doing in order to partner with the church and trust the church".
Naidoo revealed that Christians were generally not open to assist a ministry that targets the rejected and maligned people of society. He added that only when people find themselves or their own family members in need or trouble do they realise the importance of a ministry that assists people who are misunderstood and despised. Naidoo recalled being criticised and rejected by many pastors because of his choice to locate his work in the heart of the "red light district".
Naidoo dispelled all negative voices due to his belief that he had been prepared for this kind of ministry through events in his own life and that "this was the call of God". Naidoo does not earn a salary and personally raises funds for the monthly upkeep of the Place of Hope. The DCC owns the property and Llewellyn Roberts preaches at the Sunday services from time to time; apart from this, the outreaches at the Place of Hope appear to be fairly independent of the DCC.