UPDATE: Homeless man a nuisance to residents
BOSKRUIN – Residents are up in arms over Tony Gomes' behaviour outside the shopping centre.
After the story of Tony Gomes’ beating hit the front page of the Randburg Sun many residents were up in arms over his alleged innocence and wrote emails and called in to report that Gomes was anything but innocent. Stuart Sedgwick claimed that he has had several run-ins with Gomes who he described as racist.
Related article: UPDATE: Homeless man speaks after beating
“Having met Gomes on multiple occasions I can guarantee you that he would indeed have readily called someone a ‘monkey’ and I am genuinely surprised that’s all that he said,” Sedgwick lamented.
He further alleged that Gomes was infamous locally for his extreme alcoholism and abusive personality, and accused Gomes of the following:
• Making vulgar sexual comments to young girls from a nearby high school and threatening the boys
• Spitting on and hitting the cars of people who refuse to give him money
• Screams profanities at anyone nearby
• Is constantly intoxicated
• Harasses anyone he perceives as weaker than him, choosing to intimidate women
• Constantly insults, degrades and pesters the Boskruin village security personnel
• Smashes glass wherever he pleases
• Blatantly uses marijuana
• Inadvertently exposes himself to anyone unfortunate enough to be around when he needs to urinate.
“I hope he does go to his brother in Vereeneging so that he will stop being such a burden to the residents around here,” he added.
Gomes, however, denied all allegations levelled against him stating that the he drank but that he never smoked marijuana in public.
“I was recently threatened by one of the residents who said if I reported the security guards again he would beat me to a pulp. I am just not safe at all,” he said.
Gomes admitted that he did use profanities but said that was only in retaliation. “I have been here for over 20 years and the people know me, I am just thankful that they help me out,” he said.
Spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), Chief Superintendant Wayne Minnaar said that if homeless people are abusive and vulgar to passers by, the public can report them to the nearest police station. “It is the responsibilty of the Department of Social Services to arrest such an individual,” said Minnaar.
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