MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Fifteen Hartenbos residents have taken it upon themselves to defend the elderly and vulnerable who are intimidated by beggars outside the Hartenbos Spar on Thursdays, when the shop has "pensioners' day" specials.

The 15 pillars of the community, led by Hester Vermeulen, are part of the Hartenbos Neighbourhood Watch and call themselves The Ratels.

Vermeulen noted this week: "We have 'done duty' three Thursdays in a row now."As examples of the vulnerable, she mentions a mentally challenged girl, aged 11 or 12, and a woman with a child in a wheelchair, who beggars targeted.

"If we hadn't been there, there would have been problems," Vermeulen said.

Sometimes there are 15 vagrants outside the Spar at the same time, Vermeulen complains. "They operate in groups of three. People know me as someone who has sympathy for the poor, but they do not want food. They only want money for drink."

Those Mossel Bay Advertiser spoke to about the problem describe the aggressors as vagrants, self-appointed car guards and beggars.

Shopping trolleys

Vermeulen says the beggars push between the elderly and their shopping trolleys and cars and insist on pushing the trolley for them and ask for money.

Everyone Mossel Bay Advertiser spoke to agreed they would not tolerate that Hartenbos became like Mossel Bay, where people were intimidated by the homeless, begging.

Vermeulen said the vagrants bought cheap alcohol from two bottle stores in the area. It was called rooi doppie/proppie wyn.

She said everyone blamed the Spar, but it was not the fault of the Spar, which had its own security guard. Mossel Bay Advertiser contacted the Spar for comment but was told the owner was overseas on holiday and the owner asked that the owner of Mosskem Pharmacy be contacted for comment. He briefed the pharmacy owner.

Several businesses besides the Spar are located in the complex. Gerbrand Paich, owner of Mosskem Pharmacy in the complex, says: "We try to speak to the vagrants, but they just tell us it's a public place and they are entitled to be there and they hang around." He thanked The Ratels for their work.

Grateful

Vermeulen said The Ratels had received good feedback from senior citizens, grateful for their support on Thursdays.

MSec security company was also extremely supportive and assisted The Ratels in their efforts, she said.

It was a reality that the police did not have enough vehicles with which to patrol, Vermeulen pointed out. "The police are aware of the problem."

Hartenbos Neighbourhood Watch chairman Quinten Viljoen pointed out that the police had to focus on serious crime. The parking area around the Spar is owned by the municipality.

He had met with the municipality before about the problem at the Spar, he said. "It's a manpower shortage problem with the police and with municipal law enforcement," he said. Vermeuleun said she would also be contacting the municipality about the problem.

Vermeulen asks that anyone who would like to assist and join The Ratels on Thursdays, call her (082 556 8180). 

"It would be good to have a half-hour break to have a cup of coffee while someone takes your place."

Crime fighters, Hester Vermeulen, Etta Coetzee, Corrie Keller of MSec and Nelene Prinsloo "on duty".

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