Metro police officers gathered behind the Pick n Pay on Johan Road for an inspection of homeless campsites in the area.
The officers discovered a campsite near the trees in the greenbelt behind the shopping centre on 3 November. No persons were present when the officers made their inspection. This is the second time they have been through this area to remove such campsites but displaced persons continue to return to the area.
Superintendent Wandile Mrubata said, “Local residents are not happy with the illegal structures because it presents the opportunity for crime. People may think we are cruel but resident’s lives are in danger.”
After the inspection, the officers decided that with the amount of rubbish and collected materials around the campsite, the officers would need to come back with Pikitup staff to clear the area.
“If you want to catch the owners of this campsite, you would have to come around 3am. They will be out collecting bottles now,” Mrubata added.
The officers inspected another site off Van Staden Road where a homeless campsite dweller was present and he explained he had moved from Braamfischer, near Soweto, to get a job with a gardening service. The officers found a marijuana bush outside the campsite, which was removed, and the person was given three weeks to move out of the area, otherwise the Metro police would return and clear the campsite.
Ward 97 councillor Leah Knott said, “I know residents are aware [of the campsites] as I’ve received many complaints. I can’t really confirm whether they are directly contributing to the crime though, as they’re currently only guilty of homelessness and no other reports have come through of them being directly responsible for crimes.”
She said that the Department of Social Development needs to address the homeless issue. “Metro police remove them, but there is nowhere for them to go so they basically just move around to various areas,” Knott added.
