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In a recent social media post, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Ward 2 councillor, Renaldo Gouws, made a plea to everyone in the ward.
“We are currently experiencing a large influx of street dwellers due to the ward being a high-traffic zone for tourists and people who want to come to the beachfront. This leads to a lot of people coming to beg for money. We can see this by the sheer number of beggars at street corners and at the traffic lights in the ward. I would like to request that you refrain from giving money, food or clothing to these individuals,” he wrote.
“Now please don’t misunderstand me; I’m not trying to be cold-hearted, and I understand that everyone needs a hand up. However, most of the people who are begging in the ward have been approached, and either offered shelter, employment, or other forms of assistance, and they have refused it. This clearly indicates that it’s more profitable to beg than it is to work and that actual upliftment is not their priority,” he continued.
Gouws claimed that crime has also been on the increase in the ward, and a number of these street dwellers have been seen participating in criminal activity, and further stated that quite a number of them have been arrested before and released, because of the lack of cases being opened.
“Not every street dweller is a criminal; however, as stated, crime has drastically increased in the ward. I, therefore, urge you to spread the message to not assist these individuals, as it only leads to more street dwellers as the word spreads quickly on how ‘profitable’ it is in the ward. I truly hope that I can count on the residents to help each other and the ward by not allowing this situation to get worse,” he added.
Gouws pointed those who would like to lend a helping hand to the “many worthwhile causes in the ward that assist those in need. The Protea Place of Safety in Forest Hill is but one example of where your donations can go to assist those who actually need and want assistance.”
A major concern for Gouws is that of the 50 to 70 street dwellers along the beachfront, 12 to 15 of them are known cable thieves and have been arrested before.
“They have been caught red-handed by security companies, and this is obviously a problem. Another thing to note is the threat posed by the dilapidated buildings in the area, not only bad for locals but also the street dwellers themselves; something needs to be done.”
“The municipality has observed an increase of people who are living and working in the streets along the Summerstrand beach-front in ward one and Humewood in ward two, and other areas around the metro. As this trend occurs, the municipality timely profiles those found on the streets to assess their circumstances and to determine the necessary intervention,” said NMBM Media Liaison officer, Mamela Ndamase, in response.
“In most cases people who are living and working in the streets resist intervention offered to them, and based on the information given most of them do have family homes; however, they find themselves on the streets because of various reasons. The process that is followed is as follows: They are profiled and those willing for intervention are captured on our system, relevant departments and external stakeholders which follow due process to settle them permanently,” concluded Ndamase.
