No real help available for tenants of a building in Fairland which is abused by the homeless

Homeless people who sleep at entrances to shops along the Zotos House building on Smit Street in Fairland continue to plague tenants.

The smell and stains of urine on the floors, and general mess were visible when this journalist visited the scene.

Shop owners battle to clear rubbish left at their shopfronts in the mornings, and this is becoming untenable.

Aletha Greuyson, who owns a vehicle registration store, said she feels unsafe leaving her shop. “I have my laptop and handbag so I am careful not to say or do anything that might antagonise them, but it is scary sometimes. My colleague arrives early in the morning to avoid traffic and she feels uncomfortable, as most times they are still sleeping in front of our door when she arrives.”

Fairland CPF public relations officer and patroller Mike Styer said, “It is important to mention the tenants who rent the flats above. They have become increasingly uncomfortable entering or leaving the building in the evenings because of the drunken gambling that takes place, especially over weekends, as the men become disorderly.”

During a CPF patrol last week, he said, “There were two groups gambling and being visibly rowdy. We stopped to see what was happening and were threatened with violence. We immediately called for support from the police and private security companies who arrived to assist. Two men were arrested after they continued to threaten us.”

He said the group became calm after being asked to move on, ‘but they quickly reconvened and carried on the moment we left’.

“Drinking in public is a police matter, but arresting people for drunken behaviour or drinking in public feels futile as the cases do not go to court. These men know this, so in practical terms there is no consequence for their behaviour.

“We need JMPD to come and confiscate their belongings and make it uncomfortable to remain here.”

Owner of the building Elia Zotos said, “Of course we want our building and tenants to be safe and looked after, but we are at a loss as to how to fix this problem. When there is vandalism at night our insurance premiums go up and everything becomes more expensive.”

He said they tried to get involved to get the men to move elsewhere but they always return. “It feels like a dead end each time with no authority to resolve this, our pleas fall on deaf ears.”

When asked why he does not erect a fence around the property, he said, “There are all sorts of laws about disturbing pedestrian traffic and the cost would need to come from the revenue of the building which our tenants are not able to afford.”

Fairland Police Station Commander Lieutenant Colonel Clive de Freitas, said, “It is a problem and for many reasons we can’t be more active in this situation, mostly the station’s limited resources. But we will continue to keep an eye out and do what we can to monitor the situation.”

Xolani Fihla, spokesperson for JMPD said, “By law, we cannot arrest a person for not adhering to the City’s by-laws. Officials can either issue a written or verbal warning, give a fine or remove them somewhere else. In these situations, the affected parties often return a short while later and feel undeterred by the inconvenience.”