Drug dealers and vagrants in an open veld were becoming a menace to the Fair Havens church in Jean Avenue in Lyttelton.
The church said a drug dealer tried to peddle his wares to congregants on Sunday morning.
Head pastor Naldo Ferreira said: “There is open veld on both sides of the church next to Murati Avenue. Drugs are dealt from one side and vagrants live on the other.”
He said schoolchildren often came to the field to buy drugs.
“The vagrants also sometimes bathe in the open for everyone to see. This is a problem as we have a pre-primary school at the church.”
Ward councillor Clive Napier said some work had been done to curb the crime in the area, but more was still required.
“This field was heavily vegetated at one stage and I persuaded the municipality to remove some of it [the vegetation],” said Napier.
He praised the efforts of the Tshwane metro police who previously arrested dealers in the area.
When Rekord visited the veld, there was evidence that people lived there and it was littered with computer parts and empty laptop bags.
Napier said he suspected the items might have been stolen.
“This is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed very, very seriously.”
Lyttelton police spokesperson Warrant Officer Hero Gumbu said police officers were patrolling the area.
“If anybody sees any suspicious behaviour or drug dealing taking place they must phone us immediately. We will then quickly respond to that,” said Gumbu.
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