If you’ve noticed beggars disappearing from street corners, it’s probably because authorities have begun a “clean-up” of Durban ahead of COP17, the UN climate change conference next month.
Durban beggars told the Tribune they had to run and hide this week as metro police intensified a campaign against them with the city preparing for thousands of delegates from around the world.
Beggars said they had been told to get lost or they would be dumped “in the middle of nowhere” or locked in a crowded cell for the duration of COP17.
“They’re coming for us,” said beachfront beggar Martin van der Westhuizen. “A few of my friends have already disappeared and I hear a lot of us are being locked up.”
He said it was common for authorities to crack down on beggars before big events. The beachfront and area around the International Convention Centre (ICC) were prime targets.
“They round us up and take us out of the city to Umlazi or Verulam and drop us in the middle of nowhere. Then we have to walk back,” he said.
“During the World Cup, they locked us up at C R Swart (Durban Central) police station and kept us there.”
He said beggars were often abused during the round-ups. “When they come for me, I try to run away. Then they chase me and spray me with pepper spray and hit me for making them run.”
Another beggar said that event banners going up around Durban’s ICC were usually a sign for beggars to get lost.
“When visitors are coming, the police clean up the beachfront and other places where the people go. They throw us in the truck and tell us to voetsek. They tell us we’re dirty and the tourists don’t want to see our ugly faces,” said a beggar called Enoch.
He said that he was jailed briefly during last year’s World Cup. “The police came, a lot of them, and started chasing all of us. They locked us up at the police station and warned us not to come back during the World Cup. They said that if we came back too soon they would moer us lekker.”
For beachfront beggar Mandla, COP17 means he will not be able to rummage through trash cans for food.
“Every day I come to the beach for food, but if the police are coming I can’t do that,” Mandla said. “They don’t care where I go as long as I am not here.”
Mandla said he often had to walk kilometres back to Durban after being dropped at the city outskirts.
“Some of us are sick and weak, but they make us do it.”
Van der Westhuizen said there were few places of safety for beggars and most depended on begging daily to afford rooms at shelters. “If I don’t beg, I can’t afford the shelter. Then I have to sleep on the street and I don't want to do that,” said Van der Westhuizen.
Beachfront businesses welcomed the clean-up, but said it was regrettable metro police removed beggars only in the run-up to major events.
“Begging is a big problem and it is ruining our business,” said restaurant owner Junaid Patel. About 40 beggars converged on his premises daily, he added.
“People don’t want to come to the beachfront because you can’t enjoy your meal or sit outside and look at the sea without people harassing you. When we call metro police, they tell us they’ll be taken away when officers are available.
“Even when they do remove them, the beggars come back. During the World Cup, there were no beggars. How come? Why can’t it always be that way?”
“The city wants to show off now and act like there is no crime or begging. But when the visitors go, it’s back to normal,” said another restaurant owner who preffered to remain anonymous. “It’s nonsense - the city needs to sort things out permanently, not just when tourists come.”
Metro police deputy head Steve Middleton denied beggars were being rounded up for COP17. He said begging was an ongoing problem. The beggars were often handed to the SAPS, where they had to sign a warning register.
“Begging is a bylaw contravention and we pursue these issues daily,” said Middleton.
“When big events happen, we tend to see police deployed in increased numbers and the beggars disappear.” - Tribune