WARD 33 councillor, Mmbatho Tember is urging residents of the ward to alert police if they see any vagrants in the area.
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In recent weeks residents have reported an influx of vagrants into the Umbilo area.
The vagrants are suspected to have escaped from the homeless shelters provided for them by eThekwini Municipality.
“Loitering is illegal, it is not allowed. So if residents spot any vagrants they should contact the metro police so they can be returned to the homeless shelters,” said Tembe.
Tembe said she has forwarded the matter to the eThekwini Head of Security and asked for an increase in patrols in the area.
Heather Roos, Umbilo Community Police Forum chairperson, said the number of vagrants has more than tripled since the country moved into level 4 of the national security threat.
“The problem is that the shelters are close to Umbilo, so when they leave they come up here,” she said.
“We have been getting complaints of fence hopping and petty crime in the area has escalated due to this. It has become a huge concern for residents and the city has to do something.”
The city has acknowledged that a number of vagrants are escaping the shelters but said it was working with police to round them up.
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