Problem of vagrants widespread in Midrand
MIDRAND - The problem of vagrants in Midrand will not be easy to solve as there are no homeless shelters in the area; the nearest shelters are located in Johannesburg's inner city.
City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said, “The City of Johannesburg is implementing dedicated programmes to assist vagrants and displaced people. We plan to get them off the streets and re-unite them with their families.” Modingoane acknowledged that this solution may not assist Midrand residents as shelters are not nearby. She added that in most cases vagrants are taken to Governor’s House Assessment Centre in Hillbrow, a first-stage facility where vagrants are assessed and intervention begins. Another shelter is Hospital Hill Sanctuary, also in Hillbrow, which looks after adults for free for 30 days.
Midrand resident Herman Warren expressed concern to The Midrand Reporter over a lasting solution for increasing numbers of vagrants on Old Pretoria Road and on Samrand Road, near the Gautrain overpass. The Midrand Reporter has consistently reported on vagrants on the vacant land on New Road, James Crescent Road, and 13th Road behind Erands Gardens, to name a few.
In September, Metro police found a three-month-old baby and her mother living on the vacant land at 5 New Road. Metro police spokesperson Edna Mamonyane said, “Midrand vagrants seem to keep coming back to vacant land. All we can do is take them to homeless shelters but they are not willing to go there.”
“A major challenge in trying to deal with the problem of vagrants is the prevalence of drug addiction and alcohol abuse,” Modingoane added.
According to Ward 112 councillor Leverne Young the vacant land on 5 New Road has been earmarked for development in the near future.
