Civil society groups on Tuesday called for a national dialogue on homelessness in South Africa.

The Aids Law Project and other organisations called on government to deal with the humanitarian crisis at the Central Methodist Church in downtown Johannesburg.

The plight of women and children as well as unaccompanied minors has again been raised.

It is understood officials of the provincial health and development services tried to relocate children from the church on Monday but this was met with resistance from the youngsters who ran away.

Officials at the facility said many children taken to shelters ran back to the church, claiming conditions there were worse.

Social workers who have offered to take some of the minors in have vehemently denied this.