Cleaning Randpark Ridge with fire

Community Support Services, Best Secure and Randpark Ridge Village Association held a joint operation in Randpark Ridge on 30 October, where they burned many vagrants’ possessions. Vagrants living on a hill situated between Beyers Naudé Drive and Mimosa Road, were warned by the security groups to leave a few days before the operation. However, when the groups walked through a 300m stretch of the hill, they still found many belongings, and elected to burn them on the spot.

They explained that drugs were recovered in the area inhabited by the vagrants on 27 October, and the vagrants were also suspected of committing burglaries and cable theft. The village association used the opportunity to clean litter and feces, and cut down and burn invasive alien vegetation. “It is good to get rid of the vagrants,” said Best Secure director Okkie Nel. “Areas with vagrants have crime, violent crime as well.”

Community Support Services CEO Greg Pearce said that the feces left by vagrants on the land had been a cause for complaint for many residents. Among the objects recovered were condoms, bracelets, mattresses, blankets, plastic and clothing. “The raid was a success,” said Security in Practice CEO Louis Grobler, who is also the head of communications for Best Secure. “The message is out there that vagrancy will not be tolerated.”

Details: Community Support Services 011 791 7917; Best Secure 086 135 3637; Randpark Ridge Village Association 011 792 7761.