Government land an eyesore
According to the residents, the palisade fence installed over a year ago did not help but instead worsened the situation.
Some Bedford Gardens residents have accused the government of not caring about them.
This claim comes after numerous calls to the Department of Education to trim trees and cut grass on a piece of land owned by the department fell on deaf ears.
The land is situated on Kirkby Road, between Economides and Oxford roads.
According to the residents, the palisade fence installed over a year ago did not help but instead worsened the situation.
“Vagrants have since moved in and taken control of the land. At times, people are robbed while walking on the road and the robbers run into the open land because they know we are all too scared to follow them in,” said a resident who wanted to remain anonymous.
A home owner living in a complex bordering the land said he can sometimes see and hear the vagrants from his balcony.
“They chop wood and make fires in the evening. I think they also use the fire to cook. I worry that they might be watching what’s going on inside my home when my sliding door is open. I do not feel safe opening it anymore,” said the home owner.
On visiting the land, the NEWS discovered that some of the bars on the palisade fence had been broken. The gate was also left open.
Other residents took to Facebook to vent out their frustrations about the land, which they labelled as an eyesore.
One user demanded intervention from law enforcement, saying they should forcefully remove the vagrants.
“We need immediate intervention in there. This is serious” said Ms Sinah Mafuyeka.
Meanwhile, during a Community Policing Forum meeting held last Saturday, the Metro Police said they were unable to arrest the vagrants as a trespassing charge would not hold in court without the participation on the owners.
Other residents complained about a rat infestation as a result of the vagrants on the land.
A request for comment was sent to the department.
On Thursday, February 19, the spokesperson, Ms Phumla Sekhonyane, referred all questions to her team.
At the time of going to print, no comment was received.
