“There should be no vagrants in the City of Ekurhuleni.”
Spokesperson for the City Themba Gadebe said a policy was being considered to put an end to homelessness across Ekurhuleni.
“Once council approves the draft policy, the City will have a tool to guide it on how best to manage vagrancy,” he said.
The draft hopes to establish the Vagrant Services Forum (VSF) which will establish service providers such as NGOs and soup kitchen facilities.
The VSF within each region will be required to meet regularly, as determined by social development plans, to provide on-going mentoring to develop these forums.
“The VSF will consist of key players who will reintegrate vagrants back into their communities of origin.”
Kempton Park is no stranger to homelessness, with recent complaints of the prevalence of vagrants on the corner of Monument and Rietfontein roads, next to the fencing of Cavendish Glen Shopping Centre.
“The City is aware of the situation and from time to time vagrants are removed by the EMPD, but they seem to return,” Gadebe explained.
“For now, law enforcement must take its course to those who break the law and encroach on private property without undermining their human rights.”
Express first received complaints of the problem of vagrants on April 8, but they were removed by the EMPD shortly after, and have not been seen since.
