It beggars belief
JOBURG - A Beggar allegedly hurled stones at a motorist at the Jan Smuts Avenue intersection opposite Hyde Park Corner.
Jacci Babich explained the incident: “My granddaughter was following me in her car when we both stopped at the red traffic light on Jan Smuts Avenue.
“A beggar armed with a black garbage bag first approached my car. When I indicated that I had neither rubbish nor money to hand over, he walked back towards my granddaughter’s car.”
Babich said when she drove off after the traffic light had turned green, she realised her granddaughter was not behind her. “When she caught up with me she was in a total state of shock. She said when she also indicated to the beggar that she had neither rubbish nor change for him, he then threw stones at her windscreen.
“Fortunately it did not break and she was able to drive away,” added Babich.
She said the incident highlighted a major security problem for Hyde Park Corner.
“I must tell you, this incident has rather put us off visiting the centre. I feel the police should be informed and asked to keep a close watch at that Jan Smuts Avenue intersection. Although it was not on the centre’s actual property, I would think attacks such as this would certainly put people off from coming to Hyde Park Corner,” said Babich.
Jacqui McGeehan, general manager of Hyde Park Corner said, “Although the roads outside the shopping centre are not the centre’s property, we do not in any way want our shoppers’ experience when visiting us to be negatively affected. With immediate effect we have given a directive to our security to patrol the intersection of Jan Smuts and Sixth Street between 8pm and 11pm and to have any loiterers removed by the police. We have also requested our armed response company to regularly have a vehicle patrol the intersection.”
Warrant Officer Moses Maphakela, spokesperson for the Bramley police said he was unaware of such a case being reported at the police station.
“We are aware that street beggars at traffic lights are a big problem. The Bramley police and the Johannesburg Metro Police are working together to remove them. When we find them we arrest them,” he said.
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