The Edgemead Neighbourhood Watch (ENW) has once again called on residents to not support or give handouts to vagrants in the area, noting that vagrants are linked to crime in the area.
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‘Vagrancy is still a blight on our suburbs despite our constant pleas for residents to desist from enabling the vagrants with food, clothing, money, etc,’ says Mark Richards, ENW spokesperson.
‘On an almost daily basis, our Patrollers come across uneaten, discarded food and because it’s the right thing to do, inevitably they must pick up this mess. Recently Patrollers picked up five cans of unopened food in Highbury Way. The vagrants also roam the area looking for opportunities to steal goods from front gardens or open garages.’
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He adds that some of the items found by members while on patrol include syringes, needles and homemade weapons. ‘The syringes were picked up over the course of about four days and handmade weapons were confiscated from vagrants.
‘We have posted many incidents of ENW patrollers clearing away drug paraphernalia left at sleeping spots in our parks and on property verges. Apart from attracting vermin and the danger the used syringes and remains of drugs impose, our patrollers also have to face the disgusting remnants of said vagrants’ morning ablutions.’
As per the crime statistics for the period between January 2023 and March 2023, drug-related crime decreased by 12 incidents in the Bothasig policing precinct, compared to the same period last year. Conversely, the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition increased by one incident, News24 reports.
Instead of giving handouts, the City of Cape Town encourages residents to support its Give Dignity Campaign, an initiative that aims to raise awareness of homelessness. Some of the shelters the City supports include The Haven, Safe Spaces, Bonne Esperance Refugee Project, Moira Henderson House, Elim Night Shelter, Loaves and Fishes, Owl Shelter, and the Somerset West Night Shelter.
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