AFTER seeing the letter by Nadia Vosloo in the Alberton Record, I thought to myself, “you ain’t seen nothing yet”.
In Alberton North, Van Riebeeck Avenue, the situation is absolutely terrible. There are numerous self-appointed, so-called ”car guards”, 10 of whom operate between Eeufees and Louis Trichardt streets.
They have somehow got hold of a filthy old mattress, which they use, and during the day they have it standing next to the wall at the Police Flats.
Around noon they get very rowdy and, after much drinking, they fight among each other almost every day. They drink and throw liquor bottles and plastic bags on the pavement.
Further up in the street they have more or less the same situation, especially in the vicinity of the old court buildings.
People are too scared to walk past them, especially when they are so rowdy.
My biggest concern is the way they harass and treat especially ladies and younger people who stop to go shopping or visit the police station. They also become very aggressive if they are not given money upon your return to your car.
We have spoken to the police about the situation and their answer is that they cannot do anything about it.
The situation is really getting bad, and then there are the other problems of homeless people sleeping in front of shops and urinating on the pavements at night.
Unhappy Alberton resident
According to a source in the police (who wishes to remain anonymous), officers have received orders from the top to not arrest anyone for public intoxication, nor to issue them fines. The source went on to say that loitering is no longer a crime.
The RECORD contacted the Alberton Police Station, as well as the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), regarding what bylaws actually say, but neither have responded to our requests for comment.
The RECORD will follow up on the matter.
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