Melrose Bird Sanctuary a vagrants’ haven
MELROSE - The Melrose Bird Sanctuary on the corner of Edgewood and Melrose streets in Birdhaven has become home to a number of vagrants.
The homeless people have allegedly vandalised the gates to the sanctuary, littered the grounds and river, and intimidated visitors.
Mark Lederman, a resident who has been going to the park for years said, “I have made a number of attempts to contact Joburg City Parks and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police in order to protect the park from being polluted and vandalised. All of which have failed.”
Lederman added that a Metro police officer visited the sanctuary with him, thanked him for his input and allegedly asked Lederman to buy him a coke.
“Nothing was done and the bird life is suffering considerably as a result of all the pollution,” said Lederman.
“Something needs to be done as the state of the sanctuary is disgusting and the actions of the vagrants in the sanctuary is against the bylaws stated by Joburg City Parks.”
According to Lederman, a vagrant in the park threw stones at him while he was attempting to pick up litter.
Edna Mamonyane, spokesperson for Metro police said, “An investigation will take place as to what the situation is. Other departments need to come on board such as Social Services to determine what will happen to the vagrants. It is all a process that I will look into.”
