Howick CPF calls for vigilance against beggars after stabbing

The Howick Community Policing Forum (CPF) has warned people not to greet beggars at traffic lights in Howick.

This comes after a 20-year-old woman was stabbed and robbed of her mobile phone in the CBD on Monday afternoon, allegedly by one of the beggars. The woman had to be taken to hospital for stitches.

Therusha Govindsamy, chairperson of the Howick CPF, said the forum was concerned about beggars in the city and about crime.

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She said beggars had returned to the town after being chased away by the CPF and other law enforcement officers, but only after residents began distributing food and money.

Govindsamy said the number of beggars continues to grow as they can be seen at various traffic lights in Howick. “Some of them earn between R600 and R1,000 a day just by begging at the machines,” she said. “Nobody who makes that much money from begging is going to leave.”

“They make money and then spread the word about how much money they make begging from the robots, and the number is growing,” Govindsamy said.

She added that police are doing their best to drive the beggars out of the city and curb crime, but “as long as residents continue to give them money and food, they will always be a problem.”

“If the community continues to maintain them, they will not disappear,” Govindsamy continued.

“There are other serious crime problems that the police have to deal with with limited resources, and they can’t be with every robot all the time.

However, they chase them away when they see them, but as soon as they leave, they go back because they make money

“Residents must also take responsibility in fighting crime and removing beggars from the city. We have issued alerts and messages to warn people about it, but it still happens,” said Govindsamy.

READ ALSO | Public urged not to give money to beggars

Howick residents and drivers were also advised to donate to charity instead.

A domestic worker from the Greendale area, who wished to remain anonymous, said some beggars she saw with her employer harassed her in the city and demanded money from her.

“Recently I had to ask a taxi driver I knew for help because the man kept asking for money and said that my employer was giving her food and I had to do the same.

“There was a time when I felt sorry for them because I thought some of them were innocently seeking help, but even those who look innocent end up robbing us. Something has to be done about this to keep our city safe,” she said.