My name is Gugu Tshabalala and I live in Brackendowns. I am concerned about the excessive number of loiterers that have taken over the streets of our community.
Their growing number at the main intersections, shopping complexes and convenience shops at the various petrol stations is alarming! When I moved to Brackendowns 15 years ago, I relocated from a farm in the Midvaal area, and I was shocked by the number of grown men who I’d find sleeping on the grass on the street corners.
I actually stopped going out for my morning jog because of that. I guess as a community it was tolerated back then because some of the residents would actually pick these guys up for the small DIY jobs in their homes.
However, over the years, the residents have stopped picking these guys up and taking them into their homes because of the security risks… yet you still find these men who occupy the street corners daily? At first, I was also very uncomfortable with the gents who would come to my gate to scavenge in my rubbish bin once a week when the refuse bin gets collected.
Over time, I have learnt to really respect those gents because they are in my neighbourhood, going through my rubbish bin, trying to make a living. I even go as far as separating the biodegradable stuff from the paper, and the plastic and the glass so it is easy for them when they get to my bin.
What I find unacceptable is this new breed of youngsters who are literally holding our neighbourhood hostage.
Yes, while it is a free country, there must be by-laws which prohibit such behaviour. Because of their constant act of remaining in the area for no apparent reason, I no longer feel safe walking to the shops.
I don’t feel safe stopping at the intersections. I don’t feel comfortable letting my child walk to school.
I now shy away from going into the convenience store at the Engen, located outside Bracken City, because of the fear of being harassed.
At Checkers Brackenhurst Square, it is completely out of hand. I guess since the property is privately owned, they have evicted them to outside of the gate.
You do not find less than five to seven of them loitering outside the gate so they can harass you while you are getting out and getting back into your car. For the record, this is not a phenomenon of the Covid-19 pandemic.
I had an incident with one of these youngsters on the corner of Atmore and Vermooten streets once, who confidently told me that since I am not obliging him his request, next time he will just take what he wants from me. That was a threat, and at the time I could not come to the police because no crime had been committed.
It is so sad because as a country we are responsive. We don’t believe in prevention or proactivity. As a woman, until you are violated, nobody takes your human rights’ violations seriously.
Until your house has been broken into, nobody takes you seriously. Until you are murdered, only then people stand up.
Loitering is a serious problem if it remains unchecked. It leads to harassment (like the kind I experienced) and breeds crime.
I am certain I speak for a lot of people when I say things cannot carry on like this, something needs to be done.
Gugu
