Vagrants take over Morningside park

RESIDENTS living in Morningside have called for something to be done to rid the local park of vagrants.

According to Janet Whitlock, a resident in Problem Mkhize Road, vagrants are taking over the park in Clarence Road, which is next to her block of flats.

“This has been going on for a couple of years: the men move into the park and then the police remove them. We had 15 people in the park last Monday night, with all their belongings. We have had to pay someone to control rats at our block, and there have been burglaries, which we feel are linked to these men. They light fires in the park, pull their pants down in plain sight to use the area as a toilet, and fornicate against the fence.

“Two young children going to school one day walked out to see two people having sex. That is no good,” she said.

Whitlock said the security guard at her block once tried to tell the men to be quiet, and they tried to pull him through the fence. Some of the younger men at the block have threatened the vagrants, which aggravated them.

“People living in the flats closest to the park can't sleep at night. The vagrants get high, then sleep and wake up to shout and fight with each other. We are desperate. We can't take our grandchildren to play in the park as you don't know what they might stand on. This park should be available for children living in the area to play in.

“My 17-year-old granddaughter doesn't even want to walk to Spar alone any more as she doesn't feel safe,” she said.

She said litter had accumulated between the fences of the park and her block of flats, which was an eyesore.

A resident in Avondale Road said there were more and more vagrants moving into the area.

“They have taken over the park, which was once used as a playground and for soccer matches. You cannot even walk through the park because of the bad odour from human waste. I have spoken to the chairman of our sector but nothing is getting done. We did have one community walk, but that's as far as it went. If this carries on I will have to move. I have flagged down the police to show them where the vagrants are drinking and sleeping but that doesn't work either,” said Yvonne Senar.

Another resident, Jenny Bosch, said she was deeply concerned about the continual filth and litter that has been disposed of on the streets in the area, mainly in Avondale and Clarence Roads.

“We are continually having to employ staff to clean up after these vagrants, who are also causing a disturbance in the area. Hopefully this can be attended to in due course. What has happened to our streets and pavements in the Avondale area is very frustrating,” she said.

Mark Lowe said he had owned a few properties in the area and had seen for himself the negative effect that the park vagrants have had in the area.

“It is sad and infuriating to see the squalor and mess, and crime is a definite additional factor. In addition, the rent I am able to charge is falling and the value of my property is decreasing, yet the municipal rates and charges for ‘services’ are going through the roof. I am heartened by recent positive developments in Sutton Park but the point remains that both vagrancy and living in public parks are illegal and need to be firmly addressed by the authorities. Otherwise the problem simply escalates. There are already other departments and spheres of government tasked and funded to deal with welfare and housing issues,” he said.

Ward councillor, Martin Meyer, said: “I am busy putting together a community meeting, such as the one I had at Sutton Park, with residents and various departments. The idea would be to set up a community committee like was done for Sutton Park, with the hope of seeing the same type of progress.”

He said he has engaged with a number of residents regarding this issue and would publish the meeting date soon.