Generally, municipal areas such as sidewalks and parks are free and open for public use and enjoyment.

Things quickly turn sour when this basic concept is abused by a few handfuls of residents who show little or no regard for the rest of the community through their raucous and sometimes unsafe actions.

There are many areas within the Mogale City borders which, at times, may be an eyesore to the public. But, the residents of Begin Street are well fed up with what goes on on the sidewalk across from their homes every weekend.

From about 2pm on a Friday, according to homeowner Tom Lessing, people start gathering on the sidewalk along the shopping centre grounds.

Cars pull up, folding chairs are set up and, as Tom noted, alcoholic beverages are opened and consumed in full view of the public. From here the party just grows throughout the weekend until the night hours of every Sunday.

This trash bin is always overflowing,” homeowner Cornie Norden started. Others added that it barely ever gets emptied.

Tom said that it’s not so much the people gathering there that bothers him and his wife, but that they litter excessively and seem to participate in various illegal activities, such as public fornication on the sidewalk and in their cars. The proof of it could be found the morning after in the form of used condoms and sanitary wipes littering the public sidewalk.

Adrian Amod of Mogale City Local Municipality’s Corporate Communications noted that, “There appears to be two areas of complaint – public disturbance and litter after the revel. This will need a response from two separate sections, namely Public Safety, and Parks or Waste Management. Curbing the partying will also resolve the issue of litter. We will escalate and chase for responses.”