No ‘magic spell’ for relocated vagrants
The task thus falls to Metro Police to physically take them back to where they come from.
WARD 97 councillor, Andre Beetge has responded to the Sun’s query regarding vagrants being forcibly removed from Durban and dropped off in Toti.
Two weeks ago, an eyewitness saw vagrants being dropped off on the offramp of the N2. On Tuesday, 22 July a Metro Police vehicle, also carrying vagrants was intercepted in Scottburgh.
“The Metro vehicle that was stopped on the N2 by SAPS is a canter that was loaded with 22 people destined for return to Port Shepstone, Umzimto, Umbumbulu, Umlazi and other southern areas from where they entered the city.”
He said similar to the vehicle identified taking people south, there are others that facilitate north, west and other areas.
The clearing of Albert Park, also referred to as Whoonga Park and adjacent inner city surrounds, is an ongoing daily operation. “People found in possession of illegal substances are arrested – not very common, as by merely dropping it they are no longer considered ‘in possession.’ Some may, if they so choose, find their way into rehabilitation programmes, although resources might be limited, while others might even indicate that they will return to their homes or places of origin by their own means.”
However, many are without any means to facilitate their return, as whatever meager means they had, is already spent on drugs. “The task thus falls to Metro Police to physically take them back to where they come from or in the direction from where they had originally come (within reason). While it might be considered a futile exercise, as several find their way back into the city before the police even return, others actually don’t return. The reality is that on average 4,000 people enter the Metro every week in search of food, work, shelter and when these expectations aren’t met, many turn to the ‘escape’ of cheap, mind-changing drugs such as whoonga, with subsequent associated vices and other crime to sustain the habit. Unless someone is the wiser, no magic spell exists to merely wish them all away or some quick fix solution to instantaneously change what society has (already) become.”
