Kneeling beggars an apparent danger to motorists
All motorists must at some point have noticed a beggar kneeling with his board in the road between the lanes.
This is mostly common at the main traffic lights in and around town.
A complainant told the Advertiser that she accidentally almost hit a beggar, because she didn’t notice him at first.
She especially referred to motorists driving SUVs, bakkies and trucks who don’t always notice these kneeling beggars in the middle of the road.
“It becomes a major problem when the driver wants to change lanes and at sunset,” said the complainant.
“It is very dangerous for the beggar and the motorist because if the beggar gets knocked over, the driver will be held responsible,” said the complainant.
According to EMPD spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Wilfred M Kgasago, this is a difficult offence to enforce as there are beggars as well as hawkers.
“The precinct officers chase them away but they will always return to the intersection,” said Kgasago.
“Periodically, the EMPD By-Law Unit also visit the troublesome intersections. When arrested the hawkers pay the R200 fine and within hours they are back.
“Even confiscating their wares doesn’t seem to be a deterrent.
“For now we using the approach of chasing them away which has proven ineffective.”
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