‘Suspected syndicate behind mushrooming of beggars’
Local residents have raised concerns over the mushrooming of beggars in the streets of Overport, especially at the intersections of Sparks Road and near the supermarkets on Felix Dlamini Road (Brickfield Road).
Motorists and residents claimed that the beggars are harassing them at the supermarkets, demanding that they give them money or food. Other residents live in fear as they are not sure whether a person standing at the intersection is a beggar or a criminal. Ward 25 Councillor, Hassan Haniff, claimed that the ongoing issue of beggars in the area seems to be related to a syndicate. “If you go out to the intersections and speak to the beggars and ask them why they are begging, they would tell it’s for food and a place to sleep. I feel that there are people who are collecting money from the beggars in return for shelter. These people make over R250 a day from begging and the community is supporting them.” Cllr Haniff accused the community of complaining about the beggars while continuing to feed and give them money. One of the beggars on Felix Dlamini Road who did not want to be named, said he comes to the streets to get something to eat. “I have no job and no food and no identity document,” he said. The homeless man said he sleeps on the streets near Greyville and wakes up every morning to beg for food and money. He said on a daily basis, he only makes almost R50.
Superintendent, Parboo Sewpersad, Durban Metro Police Spokesperson, said there was not much that law enforcement officers can do to get rid of the beggars. “Even if we ask them to move from the intersections, they will still come back the next day. The SAPS cannot arrest them too,” said Sewpersad. Cllr Hassan Haniff urged members of the community to stop giving the beggars money if they are not happy about them. Ntombikayise Mthembu, who lives on Darby Road, said she has been begging for over three years and the money she makes goes towards helping her son. “My son does not live with me, he lives with his father’s family. Whatever I make from the streets, I send home for him,” she added. Most beggars said unemployment brought them to the streets and the Overport community has been supportive towards them. Another beggar, Thandiwe Ngcobo, wakes up early in the morning from her home in Mayville to beg on Cresent Road. “If I make enough money or a good Samaritan comes by and buys me groceries, I do not come out to the streets while I still have supplies. I only return to the streets when I have nothing to cook for my 24-year-old son who is also unemployed,” Ngcobo added.
Vegetable business owner, Charissa Naidoo, said she has no problem with the beggars. “Everyone has to make a living. We always try to help them whenever we can. On Thursday, we give them vegetables and fruits which are old stock to take home to their families,” Naidoo said. EThekwini Secure recently launched a ‘Do Not Give’ campaign, which aims to address issues of people giving money to beggars in the area. Organisation’s chairman, Imtiaz Syed, urged residents not to give the beggars money. “We are questioning why the influx of beggars? If people could give to organisations that look out for the homeless we can do away with the exploitation,” he said. “At times we find that the homeless are falsely pretending to be car guards which creates a problem for shoppers. You end up having five guys standing outside your window waiting to be paid for looking after your car. It becomes a problem. We are planning a programme which will help regulate the amount of car guards working outside the businesses. “We will have a system where they will be screened and monitored ensuring that they make a honest living in a controlled environment. If they make R2000 a day then the money can be split among ten of them meaning each guard will make R200 a day enabling them to find a decent place to stay, whilst having something to eat.”
