Drugs, makeshift knives and a lookalike firearm — these were just some of the items unearthed after vagrants and their rudimentary shelters were removed from St George’s Park on Wednesday in an effort to restore the once-popular recreational site to its former glory.
Dozens of officials from the metro police, the municipality and the FF+ converged on the park for a cleanup operation early in the morning.
Abundant with indigenous plants and historical facilities, Gqeberha’s oldest park, incorporating the world-famous Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, was a mainstay tourist attraction for the city in its heyday.
However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, vagrants have moved in swiftly to the Park Avenue Tennis Club where dozens of homeless people are living.
Vagrants have also erected their makeshift structures on fenced-off tombstones, using cardboard, blankets, plastic bags and other waste products.
Some of the graves date back to 1865.
A huge pile of old clothing, used needles, alcohol bottles and other litter was raked out of the clubhouse by the cleanup team.
Mattresses, cots and even a sofa were carried out by officials and loaded onto the back of trucks.
One person was arrested for possession of drugs and 12 weapons confiscated.
Deputy municipal police commissioner Andrew Moses said follow-up operations would be done every two weeks.
“This will ensure that there is a deterrence for the vagrants to return and the department in charge of facilities has been engaged in an effort to secure the buildings,” he said.
He said other areas had been identified and similar operations would take place soon.
With most of the facilities now vandalised, the only thing seemingly still intact is the park’s flora.
Various facilities are used as shelter by vagrants, with many finding comfort at the stands and in offices, changing rooms, toilets and storerooms.
A 24-year old was seen packing her belongings shortly before she was escorted out the park.
She used to live in nearby Rink Street but later moved to St George’s Park.
“We have been living in peace here. I used to stay on the streets but my partner and I moved in here,” she said.
The woman said she would refuse to go to a shelter.
“I want to remain on the streets.”
Another vagrant, who was woken up inside his makeshift hut under a tree near the cricket ground, said there was nowhere else for him to go.
“I stayed in a shelter in Korsten but left as it was not nice. It was harsh.
“This has been my home for ages.”
Many of the vagrants were fuming after their blankets and mattresses were taken away.
Vagrants also made themselves at home at one of Gqeberha’s oldest sports clubs, much to the dismay of Park Drive residents.
Club officials are trying their best to keep vagrants out of the buildings, but as soon as they turn their backs they return.
This is due to limited activity at the Union Olympic Sports Club in the past two years due to Covid-19.
The club’s roots date back to the 1860s with the formation of the Union Cricket Club.
Decades later the cricket club would partner with the Olympics Rugby Club, and together they formed the Union Olympic Sports Club as it exists today.
Club chair Craig Cunningham said articles published in The Herald had helped spur the cleanup operation.
Cunningham said he was impressed how it had all happened so quickly.
“We have vagrants that were living in some of the buildings for a few months,” he said.
While some of the vagrants actually put a stop to crime, Cunningham said others had started to steal steel sheets from the building.
“It’s not an ideal situation for them to live on the premises.”
He said with financial constraints due to Covid-19 it was not feasible to hire security.
Many of the vagrants said it was better living on the premises than to be taken to the shelters.
FF+ councillor Bill Harrington said: “Visible vagrants in the city bring adverse consequences such as damage to state property,” he said.
He said the increase of vagrants was likely due to job losses.
“But sports facilities can no longer be used by the residents and visitors to the metro as vagrants have moved in.
“This affects their safety and security,” he said.
“There are several places of refuge in and around the city that are maintained by the metro and private institutions where vagrants are provided with accommodation and food.
“Sadly, some do not want to be helped,” he said.
Asked about the availability of shelters in the city, social development MEC Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi’s spokesperson, Lufefe Mkutu, said there were two operational in Kwazakhele and Korsten.
He said the department also had a family reunification programme that sought to help homeless people.
The department, he said, also assisted homeless people with their identity documents so they could access grants.
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