Vagrants take over

The public have emailed complaints about the vagrants who are located along Beatrice Street in Windsor East.

Deli Supermarket is one of the main spots where the vagrants can be seen.

They have their suitcases, bedding and get water from the tap at the shop.

They sleep outside the shop in summer through the rain and in winter through the blistering cold.

Although one may think these living conditions are harsh, “help was offered”, said Ward 98 Councillor Laurette Van Zijl

“We have offered them a place of safety, where they would have food and shelter. When we speak to them, they say they will move to the shelter and when it’s time to take them to the shelter in town – they disappear, but wait, they are there the next day,” explained Zijl

According to Deli Supermarket owner’s son, Min Then, the vagrants disturb their customers.

“We call the police and then they come and get them to move out, but then the next day they just come back,” commented Then.

A staff member of Deli Supermarket, who wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said that “it is a real problem that we have because the smell sometimes makes our customers mad and these people outside don’t care. They are also disturbing our customers when they want to park their car. The police come and chase them, but they keep coming back.”

The question is, why would they want to live in these conditions?

Why would they not take help offered to them?

When a vagrant outside the Deli Supermarket was approached on 22 January and asked why they don’t want to move, he just walked of, with no comment.