In recent months, Morningside resident Rachel Smith has noticed an influx of women with young children on the side of the road asking for money, food and clothing.
There is concern about these women and children’s well-being as they sometimes spend the whole day in harsh weather conditions.
Smith said, “I am deeply distressed at seeing a lot of women with children on the street. I strongly object to children having to stand in hot weather without food or water. People are not allowed to be standing on the side of the roads.”
A woman with two small children standing on Atholl Oaklands Road who did not give her name said, “I am here with my children to ask for food as we are hungry and to also find work. It is challenging getting work here when you’re from another country. I stay around Eastgate so coming here is both costly and rewarding.”
The spokesperson of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department Xolani Fihla said there was legislation dealing with individuals standing on the roadside and asking for money.
“A couple of months ago, our officers together with a few representatives of the City of Johannesburg’s Social Development conducted an operation where mothers and children were removed at the intersections of Glenhove Road and the M1 north, Kelvin Drive, Outspan and Rivonia roads,” said Fihla. He added that some claimed that they did not have food, they were unemployed and they had applied for social grants.
“Under the City of Johannesburg’s Public Road and Miscellaneous Bylaws, no person may lie, sit, stand, congregate or loiter on any public road in a manner that may obstruct traffic.”
The main concern for Fihla was the safety of these women and children as standing on busy roads endangered their lives.
Ward 103 councillor Lynda Shackleford said, “We have a great community who tries to assist wherever they can but unfortunately what the people [women and children] on the streets are doing is illegal… As a resident, the best thing to do is to focus on donating to non-profit organisations.”
The Sandton Chronicle contacted the spokesperson of the City of Johannesburg Nthatisi Modingoane for comments regarding this issue but at the time of going to press none had been received.
