Attack on Cllr Quintas highlights City’s service delivery teams are under siege
25 May 2023
The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility,
Councillor Rob Quintas, survived a shooting incident yesterday afternoon, 24
May 2023, when the vehicle he was travelling in came under attack on Democracy
Way in Phoenix. The City’s VIP Protection Unit injured one of the suspects, and
he was arrested. This shooting incident follows a series of violent attacks and
threatening of Urban Mobility officials and contractors. In fact, the
contractor working on the resurfacing of Koeberg Road, not far from where
yesterday’s shooting incident happened, withdrew his team on 17 May 2023, due
to gangsters demanding protection money and threatening workers on site.
On Wednesday, 24 May 2023, Councillor Rob Quintas was conducting an oversight visit for the City's Winter Preparedness programme in Joe Slovo, Milnerton. On the way out of Joe Slovo, heading towards Phoenix, two armed men started firing shots at his vehicle. The City's VIP Protection Unit returned fire in line with their duty to protect the Mayco Member, and injured one of the suspects in the arm and leg. The suspect was later apprehended by the South African Police Service and is receiving medical care. Luckily no bullets hit the vehicle in which Councillor Quintas and his team were travelling in.
'I am extremely grateful this morning that we escaped this attack unharmed. This terrible experience made me realise how dangerous it has become to deliver services to our communities. In fact, I dare say we are now at a point where it has become nearly impossible to do our work without armed patrols. Criminals demand protection money from the City and contractors, and because we refuse to pay, we are under constant threat of being attacked, or our machinery and assets get stolen with many staff being exposed to violence in the course of carrying out their duties.
'These syndicates and other criminals pose a serious threat to service delivery, not only in Cape Town, but across the country. I am calling on the National Police Commissioner and the Minister of Police to do their duty, and keep residents safe from thugs. This cannot continue, and we will not be able to provide services if it puts the lives of staff and contractors in danger,' said Councillor Quintas.
The contractor was withdrawn from the site yesterday following the shooting.
On 17 May 2023 the contractor responsible for roadworks on Koeberg Road in Brooklyn, withdrew his workers and machinery from the site. This site is close to where yesterday's shooting incident happened.
'This project was forced to a standstill earlier this year as well. Given that the contractor refused to pay protection money, the criminals have made it impossible for work to continue on site. Two cases have been reported to the police in Milnerton. At this point, the City may be forced to abandon this project because we cannot risk human lives,' said Councillor Quintas.
In addition, the following Urban Mobility projects have been impacted:
- On 10 May 2023, a contractor's worker was shot and killed in Delft while working on a road rehabilitation project.
- On the same day a group of five men confronted and threatened a contractor working on the resurfacing of streets in Mfuleni. The contractor had to stop work immediately.
- Yesterday, 24 May 2023, a group of gangsters stopped a project on Epping Avenue in Elsies River Industrial.
- In all cases, contractors have opened cases with SAPS.
Report information about extortion or criminal activities to the City's Emergency Centre
- Call 0800 1100 77, or
- Call 107 (from a cell phone)
- Anonymous tips are welcomed
- A reward of R5 000 for tipoffs that lead to arrests
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
