SHOP owners on Long Street have raised their concerns about safety and health issues caused by the homeless people squatting on the corner of Long Street and Monument Road.
“This is not the first time we have made our voices heard to the metro police, the police and the DA council members about the people who live and sleep in front of our shops. They are doing absolutely nothing about the situation,” said Paul Hartman, yard manager at Mike Lessick Hardware.
He cited concerns for their health due to the homeless people using the street as a toilet, leaving their rubbish in front of their entrance gate on Long Street and the numerous times they have vandalised and stolen on their property.
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“There are no public toilets in the neighbourhood, resulting in the worst smell I have ever come across. We have a huge problem with flies due to that factor,” said Hartman.
Leonard Kgomo, a security guard at the back entrance, added that he had to clean the area in front of the entrance every single morning before they could open for business because customers did not want to enter there any more due to the mess and smell.
“I have to chase away about 14 to 16 homeless people every morning around 6am who sleep at the front entrance on Voortrekker Road as well as the back entrance on Long Street. Sometimes they get aggressive, attacking us with any weapon they have on them,” said Lenard Lamola, security manager at Mike Lessick Hardware.
“We need the DA and the police to step in and clean up the mess. The homeless people are the sole reason for us losing clients by the hundreds. Our businesses are going down the drain because of them,” said Hartman.
DA ward Clr Jaco Terblanche commented, “We are currently speaking to the metro police and trying our best to get the homeless off the street. However, there is only so much we can do before they come back again.
“The homeless people on the corner of Long Street do not want to go anywhere else because churches and communities look after them with soup kitchens and so on. If any shop owner is a victim of crime, a criminal case needs to be opened at the police station.”
Shop owner Rajon Dey from Monument Café on the corner where the homeless people squat, also raised his concerns after putting up a steel fence to keep them from sleeping in front of his shop.
“I have tried everything now, even spending thousands of rands on a gate to keep them away, but during the day they still sit in front of my shop and smoke or do drugs. Sometimes they just run in and steal chocolates or whatever is on the counter and run out. When I try to confront them, they want to fight me. I feel very intimidated and there is nothing I can do about it,” said Dey.
Kempton Park SAPS spokesman, Capt Jethro Mtshali, also commented on the situation, “This is a societal issue that needs the involvement of various community-based organisations and other government departments such as Social Development.
“We will not be commenting on the same matter as this matter is receiving attention and local government is also trying to assist. It is not a criminal matter to be homeless. However, if homeless people commit crime we will not hesitate to bring them to book.”
