I once got into a very heated debate with a friend over giving money to beggars on Long Street. I was trying to tell her that there are more responsible ways to help out those on the streets than by giving them the change in your pocket, as you just don’t know where that money goes.

Now, the SAPS are once again asking motorists to stop giving money to beggars at intersections. Specifically referring to the Bedfordview and Edenvale areas in Johannesburg, SAPS believe that criminals posing as beggars are behind a recent increase of violent crimes in the area, including rape.

Bedfordview SAPS spokesperson, warrant officer Mduduzi Nhlabathi reported:

It is important for our residents to note that these beggars will not leave our area as long as they are still getting money from members of the community.

One of the main solutions to getting rid of beggars is to stop giving them a reason to come back. Stop giving money to beggars.

Residents who continue to support beggars can be regarded as accomplices to the crimes they commit.

We can’t, as law enforcement officers, keep quiet when we are working on ridding the area of beggars and some members of our community keep giving them a reason to be back. We rely on our residents to do the right thing.

In January, a report published by Solidarity Helping Hand stated that “most beggars on the street are drug addicts”, putting that figure at as many as 80% to 90%. When you give a person on the street money, you need to realise that you are essentially feeding their addiction.

So what can you do?

Having lived in Observatory for a while, I became friends with the local social worker to find out who’s who and what their story is, which made giving a little more easier. Some beggars were known to sell whatever they asked for for money for drugs, while others just really struggled to adjust to real life and needed a little helping hand.

So now, I just drop stuff off with the social worker to distribute accordingly. Everyone (kind of) wins.

[source:businesstech]