Businesses and an old age home in Pietermartiz Street in Pietermartizburg, KwaZulu-Natal say an increase in drug addicts living in the area has resulted in a spike in crime. One business owner warned they will have to permanently close up shop if drastic steps are not taken by authorities.

Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH) residents say they feel trapped in the facility as the proliferation of drug addicts in the area keep them behind locked gates.

Business owners say they are experiencing their customer numbers dwindling following a number of bag-snatchings they believe are done by nyaope addicts.

A senior representative from the ABH home says the public park is off limits due to safety concerns.

“We can’t even take the elderly for walks around the Nelson Mandela Park, which is situated across the road from the home. These addicts are all over the place and they even hang their blankets on the park fence. Our residents can’t have a social life, and essentially visitors are reluctant to visit their relatives,” says the representative who asked not to be named.

A social worker at the home, Karusha Reddy, says they do not feel threatened inside the premises of the home. However, they are overwhelmed by the strong stench of urine in front of the building.

“For us, the main concern is that visitors fear for their safety, and for those reasons they pick days to visit which is mostly on Sundays when the road is a bit clear and quiet,” says Reddy.

Families who have their loved ones living at the home fear for their safety.

One of the families, whose father has been at the home since 2007, say drug addicts knock on their windows demanding food and money, which makes them even more scared to visit their dad. They say they must be vigilant during their weekend visits.

Lorraine Annand, whose mother is also at the facility, says they feel threatened for the first time in the seven years that her mother has been living in ABH.

“ABH is secure, but we have to wait for the gates to be opened. Those few minutes on the street are scary, so many homeless and drug addicts loitering that area. We urge the relevant authorities in charge of combatting the situation to find the homeless people shelter or accommodation since the area has badly deteriorated, with refuse on the streets and the smell of urine.

“[The addicts] should not be on the street under such conditions, which is also affecting businesses and the lives of those living there. [Their situation] is sad and inhumane. Make our city better, so it can be our city of choice,” she pleads.

Multi Mart manager, Susheela Naidoo, says they no longer have the freedom to go outside for lunch in fear of being robbed.

Naidoo says she had an employee who resigned after one of the addicts snatched their phone just outside the business premises.

“Their presence and crimes threaten our customers’ safety, we barely have a business to run,” says Naidoo.

An anonymous business manager from the same street says they frequently have one homeless man who just comes into the store and steals a bunch of their marketing pamphlets.

According to the manager, their business is ‘massively’ declining and he foresees a close of business in a couple of months.

Pietermaritzburg police spokesperson Sergeant Sifiso Gwala says the police had an operation which led to the arrest of 30 addicts living on Pietermaritz Street.

“They get arrested for being in possession of drugs. Police further arrested 15 people [last week]. However, what happens after they had been arrested is determined by the court of law.

“We urge those who have opened cases to follow up by checking the status of their cases, so that they can be trailed. Drug addiction is a nationwide struggle, one that can be fought in unison with the relevant departments,” says Gwala.

Msunduzi Municipal spokesperson Ntobeko Mkhize says the city has seen an increase in the number of people living in the streets and this has also contributed to the high numbers of crime and beggars.

She says the office of the mayor was leading a programme working with other stake holders.

“The aim is to provide a holistic solution to homelessness and the associated social issues. A shelter has been identified; however, it is not functioning at this stage. This problem also has an impact on the city’s infrastructure such as storm water drains and streetlights. The municipality has intensified its bylaw enforcement though weekly operations aimed at addressing the violations,” says Mkhize.