Give the homeless dignity
SAPS Sea Point acting visible police commander Captain Cyril Dicks and data capturer Sergeant Carmen van Schalkwyk.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
Sea Point senior citizens were advised to donate to organisations working with people living on the streets rather than have their money spent on drugs or alcohol.
This was the advice of Sea Point SAPS acting visible police commander Captain Cyril Dicks during an imbizo at Sea Point Place CPOA on Friday, June 27.
He was answering questions and concerns senior citizens had about their safety in the precinct.
Captain Dicks said no matter what people called them, street people, hobos, bergies or homeless, they were still human beings.
“I know that it is a safety issue because the minute you ignore them, they become abrupt and obnoxious, and then they want to fight or shout in your ears. That is to instill fear in you because then you’ll give just to get them away,” he said.
Captain Dicks said the more people gave money, the more they were feeding the habit of keeping people on the streets.
“I've seen personally where people have given R200 notes out of their car window to people who are begging. And this means that they are staying on the street,” he said.
Captain Dicks said they have taken people to safe spaces across the city but they return to the streets.
“If you want to give, then rather give that R200 to an organisation or a church, then you can put that money to good use and not have the money used for the next bottle of wine, tik, or mandrax that they buy with the money you bravely gave,” he said.
From left, are Sea Point Community Police Forum (CPF) secretary Julyan Symons, Sea Point data capturer Sergeant Carmen van Schalkwyk, acting visible police commander Captain Cyril Dicks, CPF treasurer Graham Louw and CPF vice-chairman David Polovin.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
Sea Point Community Police Forum (CPF) secretary Julyan Symons said they were the link between the community and the police.
“It is a two-way street, so we take the concerns of the community to the police and say the community does not think you’re doing enough in the area. We also take information from SAPS to the community,” he said.
Mr Symons said they would like to highlight the police’s successes.
“Yes, the robberies are reported, but the time arrests are made, the community has moved on and is unaware of these successes,” he said.
He also explained that they have partnerships and relationships with other community, safety, and security agencies who can help fight crime.
Sea Point police sector will be having a community meeting at the police station on Wednesday, July 9, at 6pm. For more information, email sdippenaar@sdlaw.co.za.