A Ballito vagrant who has been roaming the streets of the seaside town for more than 10 years had hundreds of residents come to his defence when he was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill his “neighbour” and attacked his dog.
Now businessman Nick Alers says he fears for his safety after he received death threats and was the target of a community Facebook group when the vagrant, Barry Godwin, was arrested for violating a protection order two weeks ago.
Community members have described Godwin as “bigger than the mayor”, a legend and an icon who traverses the seaside town. The heavily bearded man, said to be in his 60s, is given free meals from local restaurants and is being helped to write a book about his life.
The trouble started in December when Godwin, who lives in a park outside the complex where Alers lives, got a dog.
“It began late last year when Barry got his dog, Rasta. Barry would let Rasta run off lead in the park and along our fence line, creating tension and commotion with our dogs. We asked Barry multiple times to please just keep his dog away out of worry of harm to his dog as much as ours. He would then proceed to tell us ‘F*** off, I will do what I want’.
“As time went on, Rasta started attacking the fence and trying to get to our dogs and damaging our fence.”
Alers said various e-mails and correspondence with the municipality and ward councillors since December 7 had had no effect.
The Sunday Times has seen video footage Alers sent to the KwaDukuza municipality of Godwin threatening to kill him, and attacking his dog with a stick.
Last month, Alers secured a protection order against Godwin. A second was served on September 4 and Godwin was arrested for violating it as he was within 100m of Alers’ property and refused to move. He was arrested and released on warning two days later.
His arrest sparked outrage in the community with many attacking Alers on a community Facebook group, Speak Your Mind Ballito.
While some offered to pay Godwin’s bail and even pro bono legal services, others lashed out at Alers.
We have had threats of mob justice by our neighbours ... A radio station even came up with an idea of a mob camping at our gate until we dropped charges
— Nick Alers, who had a run-in with a vagrant
“The past week has been horrific. We [my family] have been called out saying that we don’t have humanity by the same people inciting and rallying death threats and violence on us without any facts or wanting to know the facts. We have had threats of mob justice by our neighbours, we have been called words that would make a sailor blush. My face, phone number and our home location have been published.
“We have been threatened, harassed, and people have incited a mob. A radio station even came up with an idea of a mob camping at our gate until we dropped charges,” said Alers.
The online bullying worsened after a local radio show, The Afternoon Show With Dave Charles, featured Godwin’s close friend, Barry Bowditch. However, a day later, after Alers’ side was presented in a follow-up show, many on the group apologised.
Charles didn’t respond to queries.
“We exhausted so many avenues for months to try to resolve and not get to this point. Barry was given time and time again multiple opportunities to change his attitude and stop the attacks and harassment. A part of why we tried is because we knew that as much as people are now trying to hate on us and damage our reputations, they are actually damaging Barry more by bringing so much attention to the matter that we have been forced to release evidence of his threats and shocking behaviour.
“So now, unfortunately, people’s view of the helpless, homeless man on the beach is not going to be the same,” said Alers.
Upon his release on a warning from police, Godwin was taken to a “safe place”.
Bowditch told the Sunday Times Godwin did not want to comment and as a vagrant without a phone, he was unreachable.
Debbie Spinner, administrator of the Facebook group, didn’t respond to queries about cyberbullying on the group.
The municipality did not respond to queries.
DA KwaDukuza whip and ward councillor Privi Makhan said the “disturbing incident” of the past week had cast a spotlight on multiple societal issues.
“There simply cannot be two sets of rules for people. Vagrancy and intimidation is a crime in itself and law enforcement are compelled to attend. Nobody deserves iconic status simply because they have occupied a specific piece of municipal space for an extended period,” said Makhan.
“The rule of law must be upheld and bylaws must be enforced. The pertinent question remains: who is the victim in this? It is unconscionable the real complainant in this matter had his rights violated simply because he asked for the rule of law to be applied consistently.”
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