M4 bush vagrants form ‘communities’
According to the uMhlanga councillor the vagrants have built little communities all the way from uMhlanga to Ballito.
VAGRANTS living in the bush along the M4 Ruth First Highway say there is nowhere else to go. This as the city plans to cut back the bush following residents’ complaints saying the bush poses security threats.
This as residents have called for the bush to be removed, following a rock-throwing incident suspected to have been carried out by a vagrant living in the bush.
“We have previously tried to remove the vagrants but they always return. There has been various searches by security companies, SAPS and the City. There’s people who’ve been detained, however because there is no housing for them, once they’re released they go back to the bushes,” uMhlanga councillor, Heinz de Boer said.
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According to de Boer the vagrants have built little communities all the way from uMhlanga to Ballito.
One of the vagrants, Sandile Msimango, said they lived in the bush because they had nowhere else to live.
Msimango, originally from Empangeni, moved to Durban early last year in pursuit of a job. However his dream of finding a job turned into a nightmare when he found himself homeless with no money or food.
Msimango said instead of turning to crime, he decided to find shelter in the nearest bush.
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“I arrived in Durban last year looking for a job. I still haven’t found one. I now live here (the bush) with other people like me. We go around collecting recyclable materials and sell it so we can get food and send money back home. Sometimes we go to the nearest dumpsites to collect things we can re-use or sell to other people.” said Msimango.
Msimango said he’s exhausted all his efforts of trying to find a job, saying collecting paper and cans for recycling is currently his only hope and source of income.
He said he is however seeking assistance and hopes that a good Samaritan will come to his aid. “Living in the bush is not nice but I don’t have another choice. I am still looking for a job which will afford me proper shelter,” said Msimango.
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