THE move by a Durban North woman to feed vagrants on Riverside Road has angered the CPF who say that the congregation of the homeless will lead to problems.  Brian Daish chairman the Greenwood Park CPF (sector 4), this afternoon said that while the forum was not against the feeding of the homeless, they feared that it would lead to a proliferation of vagrants in the area as well as a spike in crime.

The vagrants are fed and preached to by a woman who sets up a booth on Riverside Road, across the road from the Umgeni Bird Park every Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. Daish said there was a criminal element amongst vagrants.

“This will encourage more vagrants and prostitutes to the area. A month ago a vagrant tried to break into our complex and after we nabbed him we asked where he came from. He told us he lived in the bushes on Riverside Road,” he said. “I can’t speak for everyone but the residents I’ve spoken to aren’t happy about this”

The vagrants and prostitutes use a disused nature trail path that is now strewn with condoms and cardboard boxes. The path runs the length of Riverside Road and extends as far as the Connaught Bridge. Daish, also expressed his concern with vagrants living in the bush after a number of muggings of cyclists who use the route bordering the path.