Members of the Goodwood Ratepayers and Residents’ Association have had enough of the ongoing problems with vagrants on their doorsteps and are now taking action in the hope that it will help solve their problems.
These members have taken it upon themselves to create a WhatsApp group where they share reference numbers of C3 issues logged with the City of Cape Town.
“The more residents who log C3s for the same issues, the more attention or priority it would get, or at least this is the assumption, but has never been verified by the City of Cape Town,” says Mishkah Davids-Vaggie.
One resident says the problem they have is that vagrants have started a squatter camp on the pavement in front of residents’ homes.
“They urinate right there and also make their stools. It is a terrible sight. Huge rats are running around the tents that they have put up. It is an absolute mess. I have been living in Spencer Street for 20 years and we have never had this problem before.”
Vacant house of concern
According to this resident, there is a house that the City owns next to Shoprite which they (the vagrants) have taken over.
“They use drugs, drink, and throw their trash on that property. They also leave their washing hanging all over the fence.”
She says the fence is used as a washing line.
The vacant house has since been vandalised.
“They are also making fire in a drum on the pavement and cooking food right there. This whole situation is so frustrating. It is a health hazard. Shoprite has their meat delivered right in front of those vagrants and that filthy house.”
According to Davids-Vaggie the meat is not covered.
“How can that be safe for anyone purchasing meat from them to consume? Cross-contamination is a major concern.
“We pay so much tax but yet nothing is being done in this road.”
She says that it appears the system has failed them as law-abiding residents who pay their rates and taxes to the City.
“The elderly people are so scared, to say anything, in fear for their lives. I have contacted the police several times already when vagrants are doing drugs in their tents.
“The residents say they call the police to come immediately, to catch the criminal activity, but unfortunately by the time the police arrive the criminal deed is already done and dusted and nothing is done further.”
Braai on the pavements
“If we say anything to the vagrants, then there are threats, swearing and huge conflict between us.”
Another resident says the vagrants have already slashed a family member’s car tyres because his son asked them to remove their washing from their fence.
Other residents also commented on how the vagrants make fire on the pavements, to braai and to make their food, which is another hazard.
“They don’t care about the cars parked there. Sometimes you can’t even park outside your house because they have bricks laying around and laundry buckets of water, doing their washing on the pavement or broken glass bottles.”
Absence of ward councillors
The community in general is not happy with the state of Goodwood and the absence of ward councillors further adds insult to injury, says Davids-Vaggie.
Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for City’s law enforcement says, “Regular clean-up operations, in conjunction with Solid Waste, are conducted in this area and surroundings.
“We are still restrained in what we can do, but we are dealing with the complaints received.”
According to Dyason, another clean-up operation in the area will be conducted and this location is on the list.
