‘Our customers fear coming here’

POLOKWANE – Business owners on the corner of Webster and Johnson streets say they have tried everything possible to rid the streets of the homeless people and job seekers staying in the area and loitering on the pavement in front of their businesses only to harass clients, cause fights and break into shops when they become desperate.

Polokwane Observer spoke to several shop owners in the area and all agreed that they had suffered a significant loss of business lately.

The owner of Fryers Fast Foods, Conrad Seitz, says he has been operating from the premise for the past three years and the issue has been prevalent for just as long.

“During the day there are fewer arguments and fights, but the moment a customer pulls into a parking spot the loiterers all flock to the vehicle and demand to aid our clients by supposedly watching their cars or assisting them to park. We have had customers who got into accidents after being assisted and when this happens, the driver remains liable for the damage.”

According to Seitz, things quiet down once the police patrol the area, but as soon as the officers leave, things return to usual. “The police tell us that there is nothing more they can do as a complaint needs to be laid with the municipal by-laws department. They say they can only do something if a crime is committed so we basically have to wait until a woman is raped or hurt before the police will excercise their power.”

Stelios Vassiliades, another business owner, says in the many years he has been operating his business, he has seen loiterers use his business passage as a public toilet where they actually leave feaces on the pavement, and they have broken into his store seven times since the beginning of lockdown, including experiencing an armed robbery.

“When we open cases against these people after two hours they are back on the street with smug looks on their faces, threatening us.” He says some of the loiterers have also resorted to selling cigarettes and other goods on the pavement outside his shop where he sells the goods. Dagga is apparently sold to learners who pass by in the area too, he tells Polokwane Observer.

Rannie Wilson from Woofels Doggie Parlour and Accessories says it is sad to lose business in this way. “I think we might actually because of the fact that some of the homeless people sleep outside our shop. We have had customers tell us directly that they stopped supporting us because of the foul smell outside and how scared they are of these people.”

The business owners also complain about the lack of street lights and water, saying it also has a negative effect on business.

Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala was unable to give comment by the time of going to print, saying he needed the full details of the complaints laid at the municipality.