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PE Express Newspaper
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Integrated Integrated Public Public Transport Transport System System (IPTS) (IPTS) finally finally on on the the move move IT was all systems go on Monday when the Integrated Public Transport System, or IPTS, of Nelson Mandela Bay finally started moving forward when it opened (it’s bus doors) to the public. After standing still for more than two years (after the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup), the buses
could be seen all over certain parts of Port Elizabeth on Monday. The media were invited to hop on one of the buses to experience it first-hand. We were taken on the Greenacres route (Route 304: City Centre to Greenacres). According to Mthubanzi Mniki, Communications Officer at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, patrons will have to pay cash to get onto the bus in the
beginning, but tickets will be issued at a later stage. “Once tickets can be bought, we would like to encourage people to rather buy tickets, than to pay cash,” he said. Tickets will range between R5 to R12 for the longer routes, like Motherwell. Prices will also differ for scholars, adults or pensioners, Mniki explained. This type of transport would be his
first choice of travelling from now on, said Aubrey Mali, a patron – even though he has a car. “This is much more economic!” ) For a virtual tour on the bus, go to www.pe-express.co.za www.pe-express.co.za or our mobi site at http://peexpress.mobi http://peexpress.mobi and check under Multimedia | Video Galleries. We will also upload the different routes of the IPTS buses.
Vagrants threaten businesses ZELDRÉ SWANEPOEL
B
USINESSES are dwindling in Newton Park, and not because of the current economic environment, but because their existence is being threatened by the overwhelming presence of vagrants in the area. According to Ward 6 DA Councillor Retief Odendaal, the homeless people hanging around businesses harassing patrons, are posing a real threat to the livelihood of these businesses. The collective group of vagrants referred to include beggars at intersections and homeless people working as illegal carguards. Bobby Ferreira, a business owner in Newton Park, said he is appalled by the behaviour of some of the vagrants who live in Mobili Park in Cape Road. “The area is very dirty, as they make open fires and make a mess everywhere. Some of the women wash themselves out in the open. This is upsetting to my female patrons especially.” Ferreira added that although he doesn’t feel threatened by the vagrants, many of his patrons feel unsafe. “The fact that many of the homeless people congregate around my business has definitely had an impact on the numbers of patrons. I really wish there was something we could do to help them find a place
“
The fact that many of the homeless people congregate around my business has definitely had an impact on the numbers of patrons.
For a short video clip about the vagrants, go to www.pe-express.co.za
where they can live and plant their own vegetables and so on. Although I get upset with them sometimes, I also feel sorry for them,” Ferreira said. Elizabeth Baltus, owner of Blinking Owl, is less sympathetic with the group and want them gone. “They are a nuisance and a disgrace. Some of them steal from my patrons’ cars and the females regularly offer them sexual favours in exchange for money. I have had so many complaints from my customers and it affects my business. The young females keep having babies and they perform indecent acts in public, in broad daylight. It cannot go on like this. We are fed-up,” Baltus said. Odendaal said that because urgent intervention is needed, the Newton Park Sector Crime Forum was established to directly address the issue. The forum includes Business Against Crime, the Newton Park Neighbourhood Watch, Community Policing Forum and various NGOs.
Continues on page 3 . . .
p p A woman who lives in Mobili Park in Cape Road was seen lying p p One of the illegal car guards in the area.
on the pavement with her baby lying next to her (in the blanket). Photos: ZELDRÉ SWANEPOEL
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