UPDATE: Vagrants are back
BORDEAUX – Bordeaux North Community Forum says the vagrants’ situation is unacceptable and permanent solution is urgently required.
Vagrants in Noreen Avenue have returned to their spot despite the City of Joburg’s efforts to clean the area.
This persisting plight prompted an urgent meeting by Bordeaux North Community Forum (BNCF) on 20 February.
Residents have agreed that fencing off the street and cutting the trees that provides shelter for vagrants would probably be the permanent solution.
They complained that the situation could not continue as the vagrants did not have ablution facilities and therefore urinate on the pavement or on the open land next to the street.
This of course poses a major health risk to the residents and school children.
BNCF chairperson Shanaaz Bailey explained that the situation was unacceptable and a permanent solution should be sought.
“Obviously we need permission from Joburg Road Agency before we put up the fence,” she indicated.
Apparently drugs were being sold and domestic workers walking through the street were being robbed. “Residents tried on numerous occasions to talk to those people but are threatened,” she explained.
“They [vagrants] tell residents that they know where they stay and they will go to their homes and attack them,” she continued.
The City cleared the street and collected piles of rubbish during the joint operation but the following day vagrants occupied the area again as if nothing was done.
Ward 102 Inspector Sibusiso Mavimbela complained that during the operation that displaced people were transgressing City bylaws. “They had turned the area into an illegal dumping site,” he said at the time.
He also explained that the regional office was arranging with managers from other departments to see if they could incorporate them into their plans.
City of Joburg group communications and marketing specialist Nkosinathi Nkabinde initially assured that the JMPD bylaw unit and environmental health practitioners would investigate the plight and remedial actions would be taken.
Read previous story: GALLERY: Vagrants occupy Noreen Avenue in Bordeaux
The City is seeking a long-term solution. “This requires close collaboration with communities and welfare organisations as well as broad-based social and economic development programmes that the City of Johannesburg will be implementing in terms of its Growth and Development Strategy 2040,” Nkabinde explained.
Ward 102 Councillor David Potter explained the City needed a better approach to the vagrants’ issue. He said he was concerned that after the area was cleaned within less than 18 hours, illegal use of pavement started again.
Details: City of Joburg 011 718 9688.
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