Residents surrounding Fourth Street in Krugersdorp North have been growing more exasperated by the day. The cause of their frustration is the large number of vagrants and drug users hanging around the area.
Ashmar Khuduge, the Executive Manager of Community Development Services at the Mogale City Local Municipality responded as follows.
He acknowledged that the municipality was aware of the situation and said it required a number of role players within and outside of the municipality to ensure a long-term solution, adding that managing the homeless residents was a difficult task as most of them have been displaced, largely due to drug problems, and many steal to feed their habits.
He said the municipality used to provide food and shelter for the homeless in municipal halls where their needs in terms of hygiene and other requirements were met, but the drug-addicted homeless did not stay in these shelters for long, therefore those services were no longer provided. Consequently, he said, it was difficult to raid these areas and take people off the streets as they had nowhere to accommodate them, which would result in claims against the municipality.
Additionally, after a time-consuming exercise of engaging, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has also begun a process of fine-determination, which will allow for a court procedure,” said Khuduge. However, the NPA must sign off on it first before fines can be issued and arrests made if the fines are not paid. This, according to Khuduge, ” … can serve as a form of deterrent measure in partly dealing with this matter”.
He said using drugs in public did contribute to crime, and residents and businesses should report any drug use in public to the police.
“It should also be noted that the municipality does have bilateral engagements with the Krugersdorp Police and this is a sticky issue we collectively are trying to address, guided by our different mandates.”
He acknowledged that what was happening sadly affected the children living and attending school in the area. He added that the municipality would issue fines and with the assistance of the police, arrest those who did not pay the fines or those who returned after being removed.
Furthermore, as difficult as it may be not to feed a homeless person, it is a fact that this problem could continue and even to an extent thrive as we, members of the community feed, clothe and even give old furniture to the homeless who, using this furniture, conveniently set up home in our streets.”
He added that by-laws regarding illegal street living were extensive, in particular pertaining to those who compromise and threaten the peace or well-being of a community, business operations and the cleanliness of public spaces; and those who pose a danger, loiter on the streets, make fire in the streets and live on road reserves. The by-laws are clear that these offences constitute a crime and warrant a fine or arrest.
“It’s important to note that extensive meetings have been held with role players to find an amicable solution. Utilising the by-laws and law enforcement will be a last resort,” Khuduge said.
