​​With many Community Services and Health facilities closed to the public during the lockdown, criminals have destroyed and looted City of Cape Town infrastructure and assets. These are still key resources in communities who require access to the internet, health services and sporting spaces when the lockdown ends. They are there for the benefit of our residents and the uncontrolled destruction of these resources must end.

Closed facilities, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, are much more vulnerable to vandalism and theft, especially in our communities that are ravaged by additional challenges like unemployment, ongoing hunger and substance abuse. It is important for the City to return to its new normal and to open up facilities once it is safe to do so.

Therefore, it is essential that our communities play their part in adhering to lockdown regulations to not only slow down the rate of transmission of the virus but also to speed up the reopening of all sectors of life.

City facilities at the forefront of this destruction include libraries, clinics, sports complexes, community centres and parks.

For the lockdown period from March until 18 May 2020, 37 incidents were reported within the Community Services and Health Directorate.

Several libraries were burgled including Bonteheuwel, Nyanga, Athlone, Rocklands and Tokai. The worst hit of these was Athlone where geysers were stolen and the carpets are drenched. Ceiling boards are damaged as well as the roof where they gained access.

City Health staff were hijacked outside Khayelitsha Mall after they completed a COVID-19 awareness campaign in the area. This was one of three incidents in which staff were held up and traumatised.

One vehicle was recovered and one is still missing. During the second incident, the  perpetrators did not take the vehicle, but  instead, they robbed staff of their personal belongings.

Other incidents include damage to an air conditioner at the Kraaifontein Sports Complex, cables worth R300 000 stolen at Monwabisi Resort, pool entrance doors damaged at the Blue Downs Swimming Pool, and astro turf stolen at the Eulalie Stott Educare Centre in Mitchells Plain.

These incidents not only put the lives of our staff at risk but also incapacitate the facilities for use and in so doing it deprives the very communities they serve of these resources for long periods of time.

Lockdown means repairs and replacement of infrastructure and equipment will take even longer, thus extending the negative impact.
The importance of such facilities should not be understated even at this time. They play an active role in the personal development of residents who seek to change their lives.

The estimated value of loss is estimated to be just more than R700 000 and excludes repairs that still need to be costed.

This has also resulted in additional 24-hour security deployed to the various sites at a current expenditure of R4,1 million per month and a further R10,9 million per month committed for additional measures that will be needed to protect our facilities.

This unplanned expenditure places further strain on the Directorate and could take away funding from other community needs.

We are calling on residents to be on the lookout for any suspicious activities at any City facility. Residents need to take ownership of these facilities and we need to work together to combat the scourge of criminal activity in and around our community spaces.

Looking after our facilities requires the support and collaboration of everyone and I urge residents to play their part in making sure our people and our facilities emerge unscathed from the lockdown.

To report vandalism, call 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.