Street dwellers illegally occupying municipal and public spaces were removed in Newton Park on Thursday July 31.
The bylaw enforcement operation, led by the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Municipality’s Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Nompumelelo Mrubata, and the Land Invasion Unit, occurred along Westbourne Road.
In a social media statement, the Municipality commented that the operation addressed the growing concern of people, including vulnerable children, occupying public toilets and spaces.
“These conditions have led to safety concerns, damaged facilities and disturbances for residents, businesses, and commuters,” the statement read.
“This intervention is part of a wider municipal drive to stop the illegal occupation of public spaces, prevent the misuse of essential services, and curb the vandalism of infrastructure.”
The joint operation was aimed at improving the use of municipal resources, reducing vandalism and infrastructure strain, protecting public spaces for community use and the development of long-term solutions to homelessness.
“These problems not only put strain on our limited budget but also delay critical service delivery in neighbourhoods that need it most,” the statement continued.
The NMB Municipality shared that it is working on a long-term, multi-stakeholder strategy that includes social development partners, law enforcement, and community organisations to address the root causes of homelessness and informal living.
Meanwhile, Ward 7 Councillor, Brendon Pegram, shared that street dwellers remain a big concern in the community.
“The problems we are facing are that many of the street dwellers are not actually homeless. Many times we have taken them home.”
He added that Newton Park has become a place of opportunity for street dwellers because they receive support.
“There are many businesses in Newton Park, so you will find street dwellers begging at traffic lights and unfortunately people are still supporting them with money and food.”
Efforts to discourage the community and churches from giving money and food directly to the homeless have, however, been futile.
“Since COVID, we have had this massive influx of street dwellers across the metro. A year ago, the stats stood at 4000 street dwellers, which includes Kariega,” he added.
“It is important to educate the community that they can support shelters instead of giving money and food to the street dwellers. Rather give the soup or donations to MES.”
Pegram is once again appealing to the broader community to rather donate food and money to Mould Empower Service (MES), which provides services to the homeless.
“I am trying my utmost best by asking people not to support street dwellers because that just keeps them in the area,” he added.
Churches have soup kitchens, and then we find street dwellers sleeping outside the church three days in advance, which causes an issue.”
