MORNINGSIDE residents have welcomed the intervention of Durban Metro Police Service (DMPS) into the deepening homeless people crisis in the area which has become a major safety concern and an eyesore for the community.

The ongoing operation which started on Friday saw the DMPS Strike Team join forces with By-Laws Special Operations Team and the By-laws Compliance Unit to address the situation. According to DMPS, they received public complaints regarding the increasing number of homeless people occupying public roadways along Innes Road and surrounding areas in Morningside.

DMPS spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu said the operation focused on enforcing municipal by-laws related to the illegal occupation of public spaces, as well as restoring public order and preventing the further establishment of informal encampments.

“Individuals occupying the roadway were removed, and the area was cleared to ensure safe access for both pedestrians and motorists,” said Zungu.

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He added that the intervention forms part of ongoing efforts by DMPS to respond to community concerns, maintain urban order, and uphold the City’s by-laws.

The operation has been welcomed by residents and the Morningside Community Police Forum (CPF). Concerned resident Lara Ellis said the presence of homeless people sleeping on pavements and in open spaces had become a major issue for the neighbourhood.

“It has become a safety concern for us,” said Ellis, who has witnessed people living opposite her home. “I have a young child who is exposed to all of this and asks questions. He can no longer play outside safely because there are people living in the park and sleeping on the pavements.”

The influx of homeless people was also highlighted by Lower Morningside CPF chairperson Gary Manthe, who described it as an ongoing problem and pointed to Windermere as another area of concern.

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“People sleeping on and blocking the streets cannot be tolerated. More by-law enforcement is needed from Metro Police,” said Manthe, who also called for stricter action against illegal street vendors in hotspot areas. “We want to thank Metro, SAPS and the security companies who play a big part in assisting us in areas where we have problems.”

His sentiments were shared by Alan Wagner who commented on the DMPS Facebook page, saying: “Thank you DMPS, please keep it up! Keeping our streets safe is a ‘long game’ requiring consistent decisive action.”

And Sihle Stix Zwane shared his gratitude by saying, “Thank you guys, I see you try your best, what you doing is not simple as people think it is, people will always complain and they will never see the right you do, this is South Africa.”

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