This follows the front page article published on March 11, where residents were encouraged to report a man begging with a child.
According to some complaints received by the NEWS, the child seems immobile.
Residents also reported that on February 22, the man and child were spotted on Kirkby Road in Bedfordview.
The man was allegedly asking for money to buy asthma medication for the child.
Mrs Webb encountered the man and his child in 2014, shortly after the NEWS’ first article was published.
“My friend and I were driving home from Greenstone Shopping Centre and saw the man on Aitken Road,” said Ms Webb.
She asked her friend to stop the car so she could talk to the man.
“I asked where he was going and he said they were heading to the Orion building. We asked him if he would like a lift and he said yes,” said Ms Webb.
“The man was clean and so was the child; neither my friend nor I felt we had anything to be concerned about,” she said.
After dropping the man and child off at the Orion building, Ms Webb gave him R20 so that he could get himself and the child something to drink.
“There is nothing wrong with the child, he is a happy little boy who was laughing in the back of the car. The father is looking for a job to support his child. I do not feel he is begging and it is wrong for the community to assume.
“Instead of being negative, the residents should try to help the man and his child,” said Ms Webb.
She urged residents who see the man and his child to help them get to where they are going.
“I do not feel that he is a threat, he is just trying to get by,” she said.
Ms Webb said residents who would like to help the man can contact her.
Anyone who would like to contact Ms Webb can call the NEWS for her details.
Mrs Celeste Thies, from Childre Welfare SA – Edenvale, said the organisation has received numerous calls from the community about the man.
“This is a matter for the police to deal with. Social workers cannot pick people up off the streets. We have gone out to look for him on a number of occasions, but he moves around quickly as he has been seen in a number of areas, including Alberton,” said Mrs Thies.
She warned residents to not give the man money.
“As soon as he has been taken into custody by the SAPS, we will interview him to try and find out more information about the child,” said Mrs Thies.
