THE PUBLIC Safety Department joined forces with the local SAPS last week in an effort to clean up Church Street by ridding it of hawkers that set up stall illegally.
“There is a growing number of pick-pocketing and theft cases within the CBD and as the municipality we had to step in and see what we could do to aid the situation,” explained the Director of Strategic Planning and Development Stefan Landman.
Mr Landman explained to the officials that were present for the operation last Wednesday that the issue had been raised more than once in council and those proper measures had to be taken.
“Colleagues we have given out enough warnings now. Do not be lenient anymore, we need to use the law now. Try to be empathetic as these are people and this is their livelihood but remember that they have been given enough chances now,” said Public Safety’s Kumarin Naicker.
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As members of the Public safety department as well as police officials set out into church approaching the hawkers and confiscating the goods being sold, the reaction from community members that were passing by seemed to be a blend of feeling sorry for the hawkers whose items were being hoisted onto a truck to be taken away, and relief that pedestrians could finally walk freely on the pavement.
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According to the municipality’s Msizi Kunene, Edgars charged the municipality for damage to one of their windows recently and such are the issues that have called them to take action and fast.
Read more about this operation in this week’s copy of the Vryheid Herald coming out on Thursday.
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