Funny Farm a headache for law enforcement agencies
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s portfolio committee on community safety spearheaded an oversight visit at Alberton North’s Funny Farm ahead of their intervention.
Years later and after much deliberation, a plan to relocate Alberton North’s Funny Farm occupants is still at a standstill and this has sparked a growing concern.
As such, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s portfolio committee on community safety led a gathering to get an account from Alberton SAPS and their management on what is being done to tackle crime apparently, stemming from Funny Farm.
The meeting at the Alberton Civic Centre on February 7, was also attended by the EMPD, CPF, and some interested parties.
Generally, 42 crime-busting operations have been conducted in Alberton and 31 cases are pending in court connected to Funny Farm.
Of these 31 cases, SAPS managed to successfully oppose bail, and the cases are subject to further remands.
Additionally, charges of the accused persons range from drug-related charges, possession of house break-in implements, and house break-in. Colonel Sello Sefoloshe confirmed they do not have a case of trafficking in persons except the aforementioned cases.
The illegally occupied property was earmarked for schooling. The plan was for the secluded property to be ready for teaching and learning just in time for school reopening in January due to increasing demand for schools around the area.
Characterised by several social ills, the informal settlement’s matter is now pending in court. Overall, a court order to evict the illegal occupants was issued in 2014. However, to date, the residents have not been evicted.
A headache for law enforcers
During station commander Colonel Oliven Letloenyane’s address, he cited that their inhibiting factors include insufficient or no street lights on 2nd Avenue, Gerrit Maritz Street, Piet Retief Street, and 1st Avenue.
“Too many informal structures and congested living spaces hamper service delivery. There are also too many vagrants in the specific area, such as Funny Farm, due to NGOs feeding them daily,” he said.
He recommended regular engagement with ward councillors to assist with the problem of street lighting, with the last engagement being on December 5, 2023.
“The Department of Education was involved and the matter is pending in court. The Department of Social Services is to assist with the vagrants,” Letloenyane said.
EMPD’s Superintendent Neville Taylor also weighed in: “We are waiting for the outcome of the court. We are sitting with a challenge that some in the community want them and some do not.”
Committee chairperson Dr Bandile Masukho said buildings, that were left vacant and were occupied by vagrants, are a big problem as they become hotspots of crime.
“We are going to engage all the relevant stakeholders and follow-up on all the matters. This is to ensure that we develop a proper way forward,” he said.
He reiterated that there are several similar incidents across the province.
