Six vagrants arrested in Durban North raid

A MASSIVE raid was carried out in the Durban North area this morning as authorities targeted areas frequented by  vagrants. Along Swapo (Broadway) Road the Durban North SAPS, with the assistance of the Durban North/ Umhlanga CPF, arrested six vagrants alone. One of the men were found to be in possession of dagga.

Police also took to the La Lucia taxi rank where uMhlanga Ward councillor Heinz de Boer said vagrancy had escalated.

The members also removed the bags of recycled paper and other belongings of the vagrants from the service station at the corner of Swapo Road and Adelaide Tambo Drive. Recently residents in the area alleged that the vagrants had erected a ‘tent structure’ at the service station.

De Boer said the raid was long overdue and that vagrancy was still a massive problem in the area. Over the years there have been numerous complaints from residents regarding the aggressive nature of the Broadway vagrants.

Shaun Ryley, the Durban North councillor, said, “I once again urge the community not to give any form of donation to the vagrant community as it only encourages them to stay in the area. If you feel the need to assist please support the facilities that can provide them with adequate shelter and food. At the moment they have no incentive to leave and pose a danger to themselves and others,” he said.

Colonel Renedge Dlamuka of the Durban North police station said that with the new nuisance by-laws, police had a stronger mandate to deal with the vagrancy issue.

She said the men would be fingerprinted and processed at the station where investigations will be done to determine if they can be linked to any criminal activities in the area.

The men will be kept at the station over the weekend and then transported to Municipal Court on Monday where they will be charged with loitering and public intoxication, she added.

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