The growing problem of vagrants occupying open spaces across Florida was raised on March 17 at the monthly Florida Block Watch meeting by Dan Street Men’s Shelter manager Karabo Manaka.

Manaka acknowledged residents’ concerns about the perceived increase in vagrancy in the area, but said the situation is more complex than it appears.

“We have had a lot of success getting people off the streets and into rehabilitation and skills development programmes,” he said. “Unfortunately, there are many who are either mentally unstable or deeply affected by drug addiction who refuse to enter the facility.

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“Most of the homeless people around the Florida CBD do come to the shelter daily for breakfast, and we use this opportunity to identify regulars and monitor any newcomers.”

Manaka warned residents that Florida is experiencing an influx of crystal meth, which he described as highly addictive, relatively affordable and capable of causing erratic behaviour in users.

“We plead with residents not to give money to beggars at traffic lights and elsewhere.

“Without fail, within a kilometre of those traffic lights, there is a drug dealer, and once a beggar has enough money, they go straight there for a fix.

“These dealers don’t only sell to beggars – they also have no qualms about selling their drugs to children,” he said.

Responding to community questions, Manaka acknowledged that dealing with mentally unstable vagrants remains a challenge in the area.

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“When dealing with a mentally unstable person, we rely on the police for assistance, as this falls within their scope.

“However, police are often reluctant to intervene due to the complex and time-consuming processes required to have such individuals admitted to appropriate facilities,” he said.

The Randfontein Herald has previously reported that the admission process for mentally unstable individuals to psychiatric care can take hours, leaving officers off the streets for extended periods.

“We are actively working with both the police and the Department of Health to overcome these obstacles,” Manaka said.

He added that the Department of Social Development now has increased capacity to accommodate vagrants, following the recent reopening of its Hillbrow shelter.