Beggars drive motorists crazy
feel… they are entitled to our money,” he said.
Ramchurran said he had called the metro police call centre more than 20 times in the past two months.
He said the officers on duty turned a blind eye when they saw vagrants infringing the by-laws.
“It is upsetting that law officials are turning a blind eye to the activities of vagrants. They patrol the area, but have done nothing to solve it.
“It is high time the municipality enforced its by-laws,” he added.
Another motorist, Kiashen Chetty, said the situation was “ridiculous”.
He said many of them knocked on windows and refused to move until they got food or money.
“While we sympathise with them, they disrupt traffic and it is unsafe. The authorities need to take serious action against this and there needs to be regular law enforcement.
“Motorists should stop supporting them as they are contributing to the increase of vagrants,” he said.
Head of communications for eThekwini Municipality Tozi Mthethwa said they were aware of the matter and addressed it through their daily Nuisances and Behaviour in Public Places by-law enforcement operations.
“During these operations the beggars are removed along with their belongings. Metro police, in conjunction with Durban Solid Waste, also remove tons of old blankets and cardboard used by vagrants.These operations are conducted mostly in the evenings.
“Being a vagrant or vagrancy is an offence in terms of the existing by-laws. However,they cannot be fined as they have no money nor fixed abode. Arrested vagrants are entered into the warning register at the respective SAPS station,” she said. RESIDENTS of Morningside are calling for a meeting between city officials and police so they can discuss the negative impact vacant houses, vagrants, illicit activities and lack of regular clean-ups are having on the area.
For months residents, including businessmen Neil Theron and Tim Ewing, have been sending e-mails to the municipality asking for help.
The municipality last week said they were holding daily by-law inspections. But residents refuted this.
They said Durban North and Florida Road were being given priority and parts of Morningside had been overlooked.
They believed a meeting would settle the matter once and for all.
Ewing said streets like Bornick Road, Peace Road, Dulwich, Ford Grove and Woodford Grove were being affected.
He said residents and business owners went to great expenses to employ security guards who operated at night to keep watch over the area.
But he said they had to constantly beg the municipality to get things done. “We want to work with the municipality to clean up the area, but we need them to also come to the party. The recent state of affairs in these streets is a huge concern.
“We want more proactivity from the city as issues are mounting. Illegal occupants are living in abandoned houses, particularly on Percy Osborn Road. We believe these occupants may be involved in crime,” he said.
Theron, who owns a business in the area, said it was unacceptable that the city was not taking action.
He has been addressing the matter of vagrants making bonfires and drinking alcohol near his business since June.
“The city is not taking a stance against these people, which makes us ask why we pay exorbitant rates when conditions have become so bad. I have sent e-mails, but we never get taken seriously.
“By working together a lot more can be achieved and our area will be so much better,” said Theron.