The issue of homeless people has divided the historic West Bank suburb of East London.
Allegations of over-zealous, rough treatment tinted with racism have been met with claims that loiterers are linked to drug peddling, boozing, drugging and spawning crime.
The harsh actions of a group calling themselves the Community Policing Forum (CPF) is at the centre of the uproar.
The forum’s chairman Adrian Paultz denied allegations of CPF involvement in brutality, and instead accused drug dealers of framing the CPF.
“There are people who are selling drugs in this area and we don’t want them.
“There’s no way that we can beat homeless people and those who claim that they were bitten by dogs must contact me,” said Paultz.
East London police spokesman, Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala confirmed that vigilante-type activity had been reported to them.
“Police know the suspect but want the victims to come forward,” said Mqala.
DA ward 19 councillor Richard Rooy called for an official probe.
“This ward is diverse and a number of racial groups live here,” Rooy said. “But we can’t discriminate against people because of their race or political affiliation. We don’t and we will never support that.”
Ward 19 community leader Chumasande Mpafi, called the attacks “a betrayal of democracy”.
He said there had been attacks on poor homeless black people.
“Their impoverished background should not allow others to degrade them like this.”
The Daily Dispatch spoke to six people who said they had been assaulted.
The latest victim was assaulted on Sunday while he was walking home with his cousin.
He did not want to be identified for fear of further attack, but the Dispatch team saw he was assaulted.
The man said: “We were coming back from the shop after buying airtime when we were attacked.
“I had to run away when four men attacked me.” He said he was saved by his family.
People interviewed spoke of dogs being used to intimidate homeless people. They felt that an illegal curfew existed.
They said homeless people who slept next to The Redeemed Christian Church of God were being forced out and accused of turning the suburb into a filthy slum.
Ntisini Mali, 63, said she was attacked last month. “We are terrorised in a place we call home,” said Mali.
Lundi “Rasta” Krune said last month about five men drove him out of West Bank to the Grand Prix race track, where he was shoved out of the vehicle and a dog was released and it bit him.
He said he reported his case to the East London police, but claims he got no service.
Andile Vara said he was also attacked.
“We might be drunkards and have nowhere to go but that does not say we must be victims of racism,” said Vara. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za