“Aggressive begging” from the street people of the Tygerberg area is becoming a growing concern for the City of Cape Town.
Sometimes this type of beggar seems just a moment away from physically abusing someone who refuses to supply monetary support, but this specific reaction is not a prerequisite for one to be termed as aggressive.
Those who swear at you while you’re walking or driving away also fall into this class.
The City’s Mayco member for social development and early childhood development, Suzette Little, says these types of beggars are in contravention of the City’s bylaw relating to Streets, Public Places and the Prevention of Noise Nuisance.
Various spots along Voortrekker Road and Milton Road have been identified by aggrieved parties as unruly beggar hotspots.
The woman who is often found on the corner of Milton and Vasco da Gama roads has been termed a “regular” in the Tygerdal area by Carina Maddix.
In response to a post made by TygerBurger on the Goodwood, Parow, Bothasig Crime Page, seven posters vented their anger towards this particular beggar. Most agree with Helen Gerstner that this woman is one of the rudest beggars in the area, cussing people who don’t give her money.
Little continues: “These individuals have been offered social assistance by the City’s Social Development Department six times, and have refused to be helped. These complaints are often referred to the City’s Law Enforcement Department.
“The Reintegration Unit has been actively engaging with the street people and offering social assistance in the form of assessments of assistance required, relocations of street people to safe spaces/accommodation, reunification with families, and access to temporary employment opportunities via the Expanded Public Works Programme.
“Seven fieldworkers are operational in the area on a daily basis and operations are conducted on an ad-hoc basis in the Tygerberg area in partnership with Law Enforcement and the Voortrekker Road Corridor Improvement District,” she says.
Little adds that 18 people have accepted assistance in the period Monday 1 February to Thursday 31 March this year, 17 people were relocated to shelters for accommodation and one was reunified with family in Port Elizabeth.
“The City encourages its residents, businesses and organisations to give responsibly by making a donation to organisations rendering a service to street people, rather than giving hand-outs to street people directly. Residents are encouraged to call the Street People helpline on 0800 872 201 if they have any issues regarding street people in their area,” concludes Little.
