Rate-paying homeowners in the east of Pretoria are calling on the City of Tshwane to remove people illegally occupying public land.

Murrayfield and parts of Lynnwood have seen an influx of homeless people occupying public land in recent weeks.

Residents said encampments had been set up at the intersections of Rossouw and Rubida streets, Rossouw and Theunis streets, and Lynnwood Road and Camellia Avenue.

They are also signing a petition calling for the occupants to be removed from the area.

Residents with chronic health conditions said open urination, as well as the burning of waste and firewood, was severely affecting them. They said the smoke and stench were particularly problematic for people living with asthma, lung cancer and other respiratory conditions.

Murrayfield resident Elosia Schubart-Painevilo said occupants had set up camp on the pavement outside the Murrayfield Mews complex.

“There are about 15 or 18 of them. They make so much noise that you cannot even listen to the TV. We have to keep the doors and windows closed to hear it,” she said.

Schubart-Painevilo said the lack of sanitation caused severe odours, preventing residents from opening their windows.

“They sometimes make fires on the pavement, and this is the worst for me because the stench comes into my house. I am asthmatic, and it affects me badly.”

She also alleged that residents faced harassment while walking in the area.

“At weekends, you cannot sleep because of the noise. When we report them, the police come and break all the bottles and remove them, but they are back again the next day,” Schubart-Painevilo said.

She questioned why rate-paying residents should have to endure the situation and urged the metro to relocate the individuals to shelters or low-cost housing.

“We just want to live in peace and quiet, but we are not getting that with these people around. The area in front of our complex is dirty. Our gardener tries to keep the pavement clean, but they just come and mess it up again. I just wish this problem could be solved,” she said.

Ward 46 councillor candidate demands action

Ward 46 councillor candidate Helen Alpino has called for immediate action from the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to clear the public spaces.

“We presently rely on our security companies and forums such as Alpha, CSI, ADT, Brinant, Ditaba and Comserve to remove the vagrants,” Alpino said.

She said residents had the right to expect safe and well-managed public spaces. She also alleged that there had been reports of intimidation and drug sales at some of the affected intersections.

Alpino warned against allowing temporary occupations to become permanent, citing the nearby Plastic View informal settlement as an example of delayed intervention.

She urged the City of Tshwane to assess the affected locations, address sanitation concerns, work with social development services and prevent the encampments from expanding.

City of Tshwane responds

City of Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the matter would be escalated to the TMPD for intervention.

Mashigo added that the city’s Community and Social Development Services would deploy social workers to assess the individuals’ needs.

He noted that social development interventions were voluntary. However, where individuals agreed to receive assistance, social workers would co-ordinate referrals to homeless shelters.

SAPS was approached for comment on the criminal allegations but had not responded by the time of publication.

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