Vagrants cause ruckus for Glenashley businesses

LOCAL residents using the Glenashley Post Office, business owners and restaurant patrons are being harassed by vagrants. What’s more, drug dealing, alcoholism and urinating in public were just some of the concerns raised at a meeting on Newport Avenue last week. A number of concerned business owners, CPF members and local ward councillor, Shaun Ryley, attended the meeting in the hopes of finding a way forward.

Vagrants are also congregating at the entrance of the post office as well using the entrance to a municipal building to sit in and get drunk.

One of the business owners, who did not want to be named, said the issue had begun to affect her restaurant.

“I know all the vagrants in the area and we have a good rapport. However, the problem is the vagrants, who also pose as car guards, get intoxicated and harass customers for tips. I often have to send my staff to move the vagrants or clear them away, and clean up the mess left behind from their litter. I’ve also called my security company to remove the vagrants.

“Residents and patrons should be able to go about their business feeling safe at all times,” she said. “Unfortunately, vagrancy is on the increase in the area; it’s a particular concern for women and children, who feel threatened.”

In January this year, Marshall Security arrested a man for being in possession of cannabis outside the post office. A total of 13 packets of cannabis were found.

The business owner also said ‘easy access’ to alcohol was exacerbating the problem.

“It’s time for the municipality as well as Metro Police to act in order to address this issue. It’s not just my problem. It’s everybody’s problem,” she said.

Durban North ward councillor, Shaun Ryley, said the problem was so widespread he was also getting e-mails from residents living across the road from the restaurants.

“Another contributing factor is people giving money to the vagrants; while I cannot control this, I urge residents to donate to an organisation that supports the homeless. The problem is made worse by the city having a lack of facilities to rehabilitate homeless people. Police are aware of the drug problem in the area and are monitoring the situation. There has to be more action from Metro Police to remove the vagrants.

“When residents phone in to Metro they need to request a reference number and follow up with Metro to find out if they’ve responded to the situation,” Ryley said.

Ryley proposed setting up a business forum, akin to the Broadway Business Forum, to address the issues, as well as installing cameras in the area to try and catch drug dealers in the act.