In a bid to address a persistent issue, Newcastle Municipality arrested 11 beggars in July 2023, briefly providing relief to the city’s busy intersections. However, this respite proved short lived as the beggars returned to their usual spots within a short period of time.
The beggars’ issue has long troubled the Newcastle community, prompting ongoing discussions about potential solutions.
With their return, numerous Newcastillians were left wondering about the effectiveness of the initiative, leading to various residents contacting Newcastillian News for further insight into the matter.
A source within the local Traffic Department shed light on the legal aspect of the situation. “The Municipality is currently awaiting payment of fines or court appearances for the arrested beggars”. However, the source stated that these people would more than likely not appear in court nor pay their fines. “This will then result in the eleven beggars being rearrested.”
With regard to their incarceration, the source explained, “The ultimate decision on potential imprisonment lies with the Newcastle Magistrate.”
But, when looking at why they continue to return to the various traffic lights across the city, residents are to blame.
Regardless of the continuous plea for residents to stop supporting them, the community continues to supply them with food, clothes, and money, thereby creating a lucrative endeavour for these people. This is baring in mind, as pointed out by legal authorities on numerous occasions, they are all on drugs and beg to support their addiction.
Initially, when the beggars were arrested in July 2023, Newcastle Municipality’s Cllr Bebsie Cronje explained that she had received multiple complaints about them.
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However, the efforts to alleviate the issue were met with complications. Despite the Newcastle Municipality’s attempt to address the situation, Cllr Cronje faced toxic resistance from several residents who felt they should be left alone.
While Newcastle residents were initially up in arms about the beggars, the moment the Newcastle Municipality did do something, numerous people felt it was their right to verbally attack the municipality and councillors for removing the beggars.
Cllr Cronje explained that she was verbally bombarded by some residents, with people feeling that it was their right to even swear at her, calling her heartless, a b*tch and asking how she would feel if she lived on the streets and was treated like this.
“People said the Newcastle Municipality should rather focus on potholes and burst pipes than focus on the beggars.”
Cllr Cronje further highlighted these beggars were a safety risk, and if they were knocked down and died, the motorist would be charged for the death. “Even if the beggar should not be standing, or kneeling as some do, in the streets. Then there is the crime factor.”
Imran Ghafoor, a member of the Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team, delved into the deeper issues associated with beggars.
“Many of these beggars use drugs and commit theft, as well as smash and grabs. Also, many of these people have been offered jobs by businesspeople in town, and the beggars turned the offers down, because they earn more on the streets.”
Ghafoor echoed Cllr Cronje’s concerns about road safety and emphasised the role of beggars in obstructing traffic flow and contributing to accidents.
“They are obstructing the road and there have been accidents in the recent past where beggars were knocked down. Last year, one beggar was knocked down and died, and the driver was charged,” he emphasised.
In a previous report in May 2023, the Newcastle Municipality’s Communications Unit explained the responsibility to enforce the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996, which prohibits pedestrians from engaging in dangerous behaviour.
The actions taken by the Traffic Services Department to address such violations justified the removal of beggars in July 2023.
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As the Newcastle Municipality’s traffic officers await further developments in court proceedings, and considering the challenges faced by Cllr Cronje and the backlash from the community, the ongoing presence of beggars now rests on the shoulders of Newcastle’s residents who support them at the various intersections.
Unfortunately, with numerous residents attacking the removal of these people, some rooting for it, and others using anything to complain about potholes, this matter has a long way to go.
What is your take on this? Where do you fall on them staying or going? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Comments 15
They should not be allowed to beg at the intersections
I have offered them work numerous times and was actually sworn at for daring to recommend such a henious act as working.
They are a nusance and im sorry if you can smoke or use drugs you can damn well go work
The beggers at intersection distract us. Could lead to an accident. Motorist who want to help beggers should be doing so through the relevant groups. You also dont know if it is a crimenal in the road
Enforce the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996, which prohibits pedestrians from engaging in dangerous behaviour.
They should not be allowed to beg in the streets at all. Some are abusive and in your face. There is no space on the roads for this an accident is waiting to happen. It will then be the fault of the motorist which is not acceptable.
Please remove them as many have been offered work but prefer to beg.
They should all be removed, because they are a serious problem for drivers. They distract drivers. They have become a problem. And some of them even become violent if you ignore them.
They should be removed. I nearly drove into the lady in front of me last week because she stopped dead at a green light to hand one of the beggars a parcel. The community must stop giving and only support registered charities.
Remove the beggars and arrest them and their supporters ( as accesiries to crimes ). They are a danger to road users, stading in the road. Criminals also stand in the roads at intersections and steal from motorists.
Remove them , please
Beggars are a pest, they are a problem to drivers,its became their trade n very lazy to work cos they on drugs, get rid of them n dont worry about those who feels otherwise,
People giving money out at intersections should be fined for doing so. Only give monet to the institutions helping families in need. By giving money you are enabling the drug habits of these people and basically helping them to end their lives slowly and painfully. If the money dries up so does the drugs and crime and people who actually need help get if through the channels created to do so. Children get food instead of drug addicts getting drugs, you have to really be dense to keep supporting drug addicts.
They must be removed they are addicts they even disturb us on the road we don’t feel safe everytime we about to reach intersections we have to close windows 4 our safety.
The people who say it is the beggars right to beg and breaking the law must not complain when a beggar break into their house because “he is hungry”
When these beggars ask for money to buy food, or bread, or for “spare change”, there is a much simpler resolve. Politely ask them if they have a card machine, as you don’t carry cash anymore. They will leave you alone in future.
That same thing happened to me in Durban, he pulled out a card machine demanding that I swipe, luckily the robot turned green and I left.
Take those beggars home and look after them if you encourage begging on the streets. I know of a lady in Phoenix that puts her small baby through blistering temperatures just to gain a few rands. She should be charged with child abuse. People need to stop supporting and feeding the drug trade that will eventually Infiltrate our own families. Nobody would want their family member begging on the street so don’t support them