The Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) has acknowledged concerns raised by residents and business owners regarding the growing presence of displaced individuals occupying public spaces in Secunda.

Municipal spokesperson Donald Green said the municipality is aware of challenges experienced along PDP Kruger Street, Oliver Tambo Drive, Helen Joseph Drive, Walter Sisulu Drive and surrounding residential areas.

According to Green, the municipality’s By-Law Enforcement Unit regularly conducts operations to address public nuisance, waste management and public open space by-law infringements.

“Teams are deployed to remove illegal structures, tents and trolleys that obstruct public sidewalks, hinder pedestrian movement and negatively impact the appearance of business fronts,” said Green.

These operations are often conducted in partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure safety and order during enforcement actions.

Green said camping near critical infrastructure such as electrical power boxes and stormwater systems is strictly prohibited and regarded as a high-risk activity.

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“Law enforcement prioritises these areas for clearance to prevent infrastructure damage and potential fatal accidents,” said Green.

The municipality also warned that open fires in public spaces or against residential perimeter walls violate municipal fire safety regulations.

Officers are instructed to extinguish such fires and confiscate hazardous materials during patrols.

While criminal offences such as trespassing, property damage and intimidation fall under the jurisdiction of SAPS, municipal law enforcement works with community policing forums to increase visibility in affected neighbourhoods.

Green noted that homelessness remains a complex socio-economic issue driven largely by poverty and unemployment, and cannot be solved through law enforcement alone.

“The municipality cannot permanently resolve vagrancy through simple relocation or mass evictions,” he said, adding that Constitutional Court rulings require municipalities to provide reasonable alternative accommodation before evicting displaced people from public spaces.

Limited shelter resources often result in individuals moving temporarily into residential areas before returning to commercial hubs once enforcement operations conclude.

To address this, the municipality is reviewing law enforcement shift patterns to improve monitoring of known hotspots and reduce reoccupation of cleared areas.

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GMM is also engaging local business forums and property owners to promote preventative measures such as improved lighting, securing private property and reporting illegal dumping promptly.

The municipality said it is working with the provincial Department of Social Development and local non-governmental organisations to find longer-term solutions.

“Our long-term strategy seeks to balance the constitutional rights of vulnerable homeless individuals with the rights of residents and businesses to a safe, hygienic and economically viable environment,” said Green.

Meanwhile, the GMM By-Law Enforcement Unit has removed several unauthorised structures in Secunda in May.

The municipality said these structures not only contravene municipal by-laws but also create significant health, sanitation and safety concerns.

Residents and business owners are encouraged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities or the erection of new illegal structures.

Reports can be made through the municipal call centre on 017 631 0150/5.