Fear of vagrants mounts

Some vagrants in Kensington are allegedly threatening to assault and rape women while others are intimidating business owners in Queen Street.

A Queen Street business owner, who did not want his name published, is pleading with council to establish a permanent solution to the vagrant problem before a life is lost. He and several other business owners are met by brazen vagrants almost every morning.

“I literally climbed over five bodies recently to get to the front door. Then waited while they gathered their belongings before I could open the business. I have to wash off excrement, urine, vomit, bits of glue and pick-up papers and food before we start business,” said the man.

He said that on December 2, some vagrants outside a business in Queen Street threatened to stab and rape a staff member. They apparently accused her of throwing away their bedding.

“This situation is unacceptable and sooner or later someone is going to get injured.

“I find their behaviour totally unacceptable. Just as I sympathise with the unemployed and therefore homeless, this practice has an impact on when and how we conduct our daily business.

“When asked to leave, they have serious attitudes and I become the mean person putting them out,” said the man.

He added that on some mornings at about 8am, vagrants are still sleeping and staff cannot get access to the front door in fear of being attacked.

“I have customers from afar who have to call at odd times and I cannot assist in the evenings or early in the morning due to their presence and threat. I attended a few Cleveland Community Police Forum (CCPF) meetings and the authorities have been supportive in addressing this problem,” he said.

He commended the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the SAPS for patrolling the area and assisting on several occasions. “However, after one or two days later the vagrants return and carry on with their practice. I am well aware that the authorities have to attend to more serious situations, so surely city management can come up with solutions.

“As a rate paying business owner, I am considering taking my business somewhere I can trade without this threat,” said the man.

Mr Nthatisi Modingoane, from the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), said the city is implementing dedicated programmes to assist displaced and homeless people and to get them off the streets.

“The city has a fluctuating number of displaced people who are living on the streets of Johannesburg, mostly in the inner-city. The issues of homelessness and street dwelling are a common experience in urban environments across the world. Our objective is to address their immediate needs in the most humane way possible, but then to work with them in finding lasting solutions,” he said.

The city’s department of social development has a Displaced Persons Unit, consisting of social workers and community development officers who work with people living on the streets on a daily basis.

“There are teams of social and community workers who reach out to displaced people on the streets of Johannesburg on a daily basis. They are aware of certain hotspot areas where homeless people usually converge and start with interventions to find a long-term solution for each individual. Among the hotspots identified, are the Braamfontein Spruit and along the banks of the Jukskei River, while the city is also aware of a growing trend for displaced people, especially children, living in manholes,” said Mr Modingoane.

The EXPRESS previously published articles about people living in manholes in Queen Street and several vagrants living along the Jukskei River in Bruma and Bez Valley. Several people believe that some of these displaced people are involved in muggings, burglaries and other crimes. JMPD removed some vagrants living along the Jukskei River and found goods believed to have been stolen a few months ago.

“Through the city’s outreach programmes, the social workers make contact with homeless people and convince them to move to Governors House. Here they are provided with counselling and thereafter undergo psycho-social assessments. People also come to this facility on their own accord or are brought there by the JMPD or SAPS, with whom the centre collaborates. One of the priorities is to re-unite displaced individuals with their families. The city works with various non-governmental organisations which lend their expertise and resources in dealing with matters afflicting the displaced people,” said Mr Modingoane.

The city has other facilities to look after adults and children as well. “The city also maintains strong linkages with other institutions that are concerned with the welfare of people, such as the SAPS, the JMPD, the Commissioner for Child Welfare and magistrate courts. A major challenge is the prevalence of addiction to drugs and other substances, which the city addresses through various interventions including counselling services,” said Mr Modingoane.