Residents gather to resolve issues plaguing Edenvale
It is one of those situations where a few people are battling the problem
In the hopes of improving the community, members came together to address the behaviour and actions of some of Edenvale’s homeless.
The August 20 meeting was called to raise potential solutions and establish a committee to drive solutions forward.
Chairperson of the meeting and Ward 18 committee member in charge of the community safety portfolio Louis Antonopoulos said the purpose of the meeting was to get residents of Wards 18 and 19, who are affected by the vagrants, together, hear suggestions from the community and determine who wants to help addressing the matter.
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It was the first meeting of potentially multiple. Security companies present were SOS and Mamba.
Antonopoulos said the meeting was held after concerns were raised in a community WhatsApp group.
“The perception was put out there that nothing is being done to address the issue by the community, security companies, SAPS, EMPD and other authorities,” said Antonopoulos.
He said several suggestions were raised and questions asked regarding what could and could not be done.
“Together with the help of security companies, SAPS, EMPD, and other departments, we tirelessly look to address the vagrants, the hotspots, and the issues around homelessness.”
Two locations identified as hotspots for vagrants were the Molly Vincent Bird Sanctuary (between Edenvale Sports Grounds and Conzalves Road) and the bottom of the Avenues.
“One of the questions asked is why the bird sanctuary is left open with no one addressing it.
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“In the last two years with the help of law enforcement and municipal departments, we’ve cleared the vagrants out three times.
“We have invested in replacing and repairing the perimeter walling but it is one of those situations where a few people are battling the problem.”
He said that without the support of authorities such as EMPD, which enforces bylaws, it would be a difficult task.
Ward 18 Ald Heather Hart highlighted that the greatest challenge is that there are no bylaws that are specifically applicable to address the situation.
She said that establishing a bylaw to specifically deal with the homeless would take between 18 months and two years.
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“In reality, we cannot just remove them. Yes they are trespassing but there needs to be no trespassing signage erected,” said Hart.
She said although SAPS could remove them, they can’t do so currently as there is no location to relocate them to.
“If we can open up the bird sanctuary and make it a place we all went to and visited perhaps fewer people would live there.”
Hart said the difference between the vagrants at the bottom of the Avenues when compared to the sanctuary is that the Avenues are open yet not frequented by community members.
She said different strategies will be needed for the different areas.
Antonopoulos emphasised that the community needs to come together.
“We must not take the law into our own hands but focus on what other areas have done to solve similar problems,” said Antonopoulos.
Other places where open areas have been secured and taken back by the community include Hurlyvale Park, Palliser Park and Protea Park.
Antonopoulos said that because the bird sanctuary is enclosed and has walls around it, it acts as a hideaway.
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By opening the area up, Antonopoulos believes it will provide authorities easier access to the property and fewer hiding spaces for the vagrants.
It is estimated that between 100 and 150 homeless persons, including recyclers, petty thieves and drug addicts live in the sanctuary.
David Heritage of Edenvale’s HELP Forum and NPO Revive said the individuals living on the perimeter and boundary of the bird sanctuary are commonly recyclers.
He said one of the reasons so many homeless come to Edenvale is because “life is good” for them.
Heritage said the Help Forum, with the help of authorities and councillors, are discouraging community members from giving items like money, food or clothes to those in need on the street.
“By doing this you are only enabling their behaviour and habits.”
One way the forum is trying to prevent this is by making one organisation, Khanyisa, the provider of meals and essentials for the homeless.
“Instead of giving to those on the street donate to Khanyisa which serves two meals to 150 people.”
Heritage said while at Khanyisa, the homeless are profiled, helped to obtain IDs and helped to get the correct medication.
Antonopoulos said although individuals living in the bird sanctuary were removed previously others repetitively move in.
“The sanctuary itself is a lovely area, it would be great to restore it to what it once was.”
Hart said presently a controlled burn of Molly Vincent Bird Sanctuary is planned
“Everyone will be warned so that those living in the sanctuary will vacate the area.
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“It is a tragedy but once the area is burned we will try and reclaim it over several months through continuous clean-ups,” said Hart.
She said although some vagrants might return, the situation will be able to be better controlled.
Security company SOS stated that by addressing one area, a domino effect of vagrants moving from one area to the next could be created.
SOS’ Chris Gagiano said once vagrants are moved from a park or veld they could move into abandoned houses such as those in the Avenues.
