Ward counsellor David Foley works with a Metro police officer to resolve the issues.
The residents of Montefalco Residential Complex in Fourways are frustrated with local job seekers who gather daily on the complex’s front lawn seeking plumbing and painting jobs as well as domestic work.
Job seekers sit outside Montefalco Residential Complex.
Resident Bev Horn said the congestion and resultant litter left by the job seekers is atrocious and residents are also scared to walk outside the complex. “Trucks for hire are also parked outside [the complex], sometimes four at a time,” said Horn.
The lawn in front of Montefalco Residential Complex, after the job seekers were asked to leave the premises.
Ward 94 councillor David Foley said it is a bit of a challenge as some of the people are illegal immigrants. “We mobilised [Metro police] and Saps to deal with the situation accordingly. We did manage to move the job seekers and illegal hawkers on at the end of the day.”
According to Horn, the reaction to the problem was dealt with promptly and efficiently.
Foley added that, at this point, the main concern is job creation and ensuring people in the city are in the country legally.
Illegal hawkers in the Fourways area.
“It is difficult for the Metro police to move the job seekers permanently, as they are not doing anything illegal,” said Foley. He added that, hopefully, a mutual consensus about the matter can be reached between the residents, the job seekers and the Metro police.
This is an ongoing story and updates will be made available as soon as more information is obtained.
