GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The weapons that some people living on the streets of Graaff-Reinet carry on them were revealed when local police and social services found knives and other sharp objects on them during a search at the Alexander Laing Hall.
Some were also found with drugs. Around 30 homeless people were first taken to Alexander Laing Hall on 27 March for safekeeping during the lockdown. Many were disappointed in being contained and soon overwhelmed the security guard to head back to the streets.
Police managed to take the people back to the hall, where the haven supervisor, Kosie Dolleys, caught one of them hiding a huge knife in a toilet cistern.
The security guard and the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality manager for havens Lucricia Jackson, helped Dolleys conduct a search of the others and confiscated dangerous weapons that many of them were carrying.
The homeless people told the Advertiser afterwards that they have to carry weapons as protection against gangsters.
On 4 April, the police and defence force had to be called in to stop a fight between some of the people at the hall. It is unclear how many people were involved in the fight.
Police spokesperson, Captain Bradley Rawlinson, said the police conduct regular searches of the people and their possessions but are not at the hall 24/7, as there is a security guard.
The police and defence force were called in to stop a fight at the haven.
Some of the dangerous weapons found on the people in the haven.
The police and defence force were called in to stop a fight at the haven.
Some of the dangerous weapons found on the people in the haven.
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