Vagrant leaves faeces in her wake

VAGRANTS are and have been an issue in Vryheid for a very long time and the community seems to still not be drawing nearer to solutions.

Initially, some community members suggested that the AbaQulusi Municipality start a shelter for the people living on the streets as their number seems to increase every year.

“There seems to be a new one every week,” remarked one resident.

A woman who has set camp at the corner of Church and Landrost Street recently came under the spotlight as business owners around the area say they are fed up with her and the mucky state she has created in the area around her.

The woman, who sits at this corner day and night, on a mattress with a huge fluffy blanket covering her is said to return to this spot every so often and it is unclear why.

While some community members have felt sorry for her, offering her spare change and loaves of bread, some are outright disgusted at the woman who is said to defecate in plastic bags and urinate in containers that she thereafter leaves beside her big blanket possibly to dispose off later.

“This is really creating an awful image for our stores,” said one shopkeeper in the area.

Without a care in the world, this woman sits at her corner merrily chirping away with anyone who will listen.

Many say that she does not seem mentally ill as she can hold a normal conversation about any subject throwing a casual “Please give me a R2”, while she is at it.

The business owners say that they have approached the local SAPS regarding the matter but were told that it is very difficult to warrant an arrest for a vagrant, especially if they have not done any malicious damage to property.

Find us on: facebook, twitter ans on Whats App 060986 0731.