City condemns attacks on frontline staff, calls on residents to assist in reporting crime

10 February 2021

Water and Sanitation teams have been targeted by violent criminals at increasing rates. The City condemns in the strongest possible terms the hijackings, robberies and general threats to staff who are carrying out essential services across Cape Town. Residents who have any information related to these cases are encouraged to please report it to the South African Police Service for their investigation, as such attacks on staff and the services to our communities cannot be tolerated. Read more below:

An alarming number of hijackings, robberies and general threats and intimidation of City staff and contractors have been reported in recent weeks. Attacks have occurred both during the course of duty and during the commute to/from work.

• On Monday 18 January, at 15:30 in Monwabisi Park, staff and contractors overseeing a water supply project were held up at gunpoint and robbed  of personal belongings, tools, and a City-hired bakkie. The team was forced into a trench while the criminals made their escape.
• On Thursday 28 January in Tambo Village in Manenberg, a maintenance team of four staff was approached by criminals and robbed at gunpoint of their personal belongings.
• On Friday 29 January at about 11:00 a bakkie belonging to a City Contractor was taken at gunpoint at C-section, Eyethu in Khayelitsha.  The contractor was assisting an operational team when opportunistic criminals pointed a gun and robbed them of their personal belongings and the bakkie.
• Also on Friday 29 January at around 13:00 in Site C, Khayelitsha, operational staff were approached by a group of men where they were held at gunpoint.  The team managed to withdraw from the site unharmed.
• On Tuesday 2 February at about 16:20 in Philippi, staff were robbed of their personal belongings during their journey home from work.
   
  'Although we are relieved that none of our staff were physically injured, we condemn these actions in the strongest terms. Our frontline staff have demonstrated immense commitment and dedication to carrying out their duties throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and individuals who exploit their vulnerability of exposure while delivering essential services not only rob the teams of personal belongings and municipal equipment, but also innocent community members of service delivery. Staff are receiving counselling as these experiences have left them traumatised. 
   
  ‘These dangerous incidents discourage teams from wanting to enter these areas as they have to work in a volatile environment where they do not feel safe. This can result in delays in service provision. The safety and wellbeing of staff must be prioritized.
   
  The City is committed to delivering services and will continue to do so to the best of its ability. However, as robberies and hijackings increase, staff are justifiably starting to worry for their safety entering some areas without a police escort,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
   
  Cases have been reported to the South African Police Service for investigation.
   
  ‘We urge anyone who has any information regarding these incidents to please report it to the SAPS as soon as possible. Guilty parties need to be held accountable for their crimes, and we cannot afford to see service delivery to vulnerable communities be hijacked by a few opportunistic criminals,’ said Alderman Limberg.
   
   

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office