Johannesburg Metro Police Remove Women Who Beg From the Side of the Road, Contravening By-Laws

• The Johannesburg Metro Police Department has begun removing women who beg from the sides of the road
• The JMPD has been instructed to enforce the city's by-laws and remove the women who are at risk of being hurt and even killed
• The women rely on the money they earn from begging to support their families, however, some believe the women are being exploited by a syndicate

JOHANNESBURG - Mothers begging on the side of the road in Johannesburg used to be a common sight, however, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) in cooperation with the social development department has begun removing them.

Sitting next to a public road is a contravention of the city's by-laws and the JMPD have begun enforcing the law.

However, begging along the side of the road is the only form of income for most mothers who rely on the money to support their families.

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News24 reported that JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said that the city is concerned that the women are vulnerable on the streets and if an accident took place their lives might be in danger.

Some speculate that the women work for a syndicate that uses the women and their children to manipulate people into giving them money or food.

The Sowetan reported that the issue has become an ethical dilemma with some people openly expressing contempt for the women on the side of the road while others are moved to solicit sympathy from passing motorists.

Hundreds of new metro officers to be deployed to the JHB CBD

Earlier, Briefly News reported that 250 new Johannesburg Metro Police Officers will soon be walking the streets of the CBD after the Department of Economic Development sponsored the additional manpower.

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The officer's primary role will be to enforce the city's newly implemented Informal Trading Policy which is set to change the way traders operate in the city centre.

Johannesburg will not ban foreign traders from the CBD but has created the policy to give South African traders preference according to eNCA.

KZN taxi drivers thwart looting, Operation Dudula vows to protect malls

In similar news, a group of individuals attempted to loot a mall in Hammersdale, Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, however, their efforts were thwarted.

Taxi drivers and owners protected the mall by firing shots into the air to disperse the crowd that was determined to loot Junction Mall.

According to The Witness, a crowd of approximately 100 people burnt tyres near the mall at around 9pm. The crowd was unable to get near the mall because it was heavily protected by taxi operators, the police and private security officers.

Source: Briefly News