UPDATE ON PROTEST HELD BY BEREA RESIDENTS 7 August 4.30 - 5.30pm INTERSECTION OF ST THOMAS and ESSENWOOD Roads Feedback on last nights protest to create awareness amongst the public regarding the dangers of encouraging beggars. South Africa is the protest capital of the world. In September 2013 the police reported that they had made more than 14 000 arrests at protests in the past four years. In February 2014 it was reported that there had been nearly 3 000 protest actions in the last 90 days – more than 30 a day – involving more than a million people. EThekwini Metro (Durban, KwaZulu-Natal) comes third out of seven to register the most protest notifications to the local authorities. Chapter seven of the Constitution states that the objective of local government is to provide for democratic and accountable government. But despite its best intentions to encourage community involvement, the system has failed to live up to these expectations. Popular discontent with unresponsive municipalities has increased substantially, especially since 2004. Discontented residents on the Berea are up in arms over a group of beggars (who are becoming increasingly aggressive) who operate at the St Thomas and Stephen Dlamini (Essenwood) intersection. Last night the gang was displaced by angry residents protesting about the dangers of beggars operating on the Berea. They want the beggars removed for good and for people to stop giving them money. Local residents have nicknamed the main culprits Finger, Slobber and Dent. Another is nicknamed One Arm, as he often appears with only ‘one arm’ although he has different guises. A few weeks back he tried to stab a young man on a scooter. He fled when the police were called but returned a day later to take up business as usual. It has become alarmingly apparent that the St Thomas gang feel entitled to harass motorists and occupy this spot. Retribution is swift and merciless should a stray attempt to pan-handle from this spot. Finger, Slobber and Dent rule OK. Residents feel the gang lives somewhere in close proximity to this intersection. It is thought that they sleep in the ‘new’ sub-station behind La Bella in St. Thomas’ Road. Last night, one of the slogans seen on a placard held by a protestor simply said - SAY NO TO AGGRESSIVE BEGGARS – PLEASE HOOT IF YOU AGREE Judging by the cacophony of sustained hooting for over an hour, there is no doubt that the motorists regularly using this route agree.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 16:36:51 +0000
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