Editor
I HAVE noted with concern that vagrants have taken to sleeping on the road at the garage near the traffic lights on Swapo Drive. They have made some sort of tent structure to offer protection from the elements. Driving past there at 11am one of the men was still lying there snuggled up under what appeared to be a duvet. All the sleeping paraphernalia is in a pile against the electricity box.
Our municipality has recently passed bylaws which give our police greater power to deal with these kind of issues. The police however often seem to be uninterested in getting involved.
Perhaps the business forum that dealt with the car guards could get involved to prevent this escalating. Alternatively the Greenwood Park SAPS could deal with this as part of their Snake Patrol referred to in your latest edition?
Whilst I am sympathetic to the circumstances that these people find themselves in, it is tempered by the concern that our neighbourhood too will eventually end up deteriorating if this is not nipped in the bud.
This concern is compounded by the increasing number of beggars seen on a daily basis at that intersection and some others in our suburb. Motorists should not be giving money as this encourages the begging. Rather donate to a shelter as this is a better way of getting these people off the streets and really making a difference.
Elvia Els
Durban North
