Vagrants take over Mahogany Street and Malibongwe Drive
NORTH RIDING – Vagrants become a social crisis.
Illegal traders and job seekers with suitcases, pots, old mattresses, littering and recycling sorting points are all one sees along Mahogany Street and Malibongwe Drive.
Residents want them removed and also accuse the authorities of turning a blind eye on the vagrant crisis.
They also allege that vagrants are creating squatter camps and the illegal traders are also located along the La Mesa & La Junta boundary wall onto Malibongwe, corner of 2nd Avenue and Malibongwe, Sunrock Village near Malibongwe, Malibongwe and Jacaranda near N1 and President Fouché near the high way.
Ward 101 DA councilor Ralf Bittkau said he personally reported the matter to JMPD but the vagrants were only instructed to pack up and remove themselves which they never did.
Bittkau said the authorities are not taking this matter serious.
“The streets up to the river are slowly turned into squatter camps, pedestrians are mugged and smash-and-grabs are every day allegedly committed by the very same people,” said Bittkau.
Bittkau said the JMPD acknowledged receiving the emails but they are just not acting.
JMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the vagrants are not their responsibility, they only act where vagrants are found violating the Roads Act.
Supt Minnaar advised the residents to direct their issues with vagrants to the social services.
Related stories:
Vagrants at Melville Koppies ordered to move
Resident’s Association locks vagrants out
