The City of Cape Town (COCT) has urged the public to speak out and report criminal activity after two staff members who work for the City’s sewer depot were held at gunpoint and robbed while on a call out in Philippi East on Sunday, January 30.
According to the City’s Mayco Member for Water and Waste Zahid Badroodien, staff members were unharmed, however, the perpetrators made off with a Nissan double cab bakkie along with all their belongings including cellphones, wallets and other valuable items.
“Our staff are extremely traumatised and had to call the senior Superintendent to pick them up to take them to Philippi police station.
“The City of Cape Town will not put the lives of our staff at risk by allowing them to go into well known hot spot communities if there is no Law Enforcement or Protection Services accompaniment our staff will not respond service requests as for them to do so puts their life at risk,” Badroodien expressed.
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Badroodien further mentioned that this isn’t the first time COCT staff members are targeted after the very same team were held up by six armed men in the same community in December 2020.
“I call upon all community members to stand up and report these criminals who prevent services from being rendered. Don’t be silent,” Badroodien reiterated.
Meanwhile, the COCT’s Corporate Services Directorate wants to warn residents and jobseekers of fraudsters and scammers that prey on unsuspecting and desperate people about fake opportunities with the City.
According to City’s Mayco Member for Corporate Services Theresa Uys, the City would never ask for money from those applying for vacancies, internships, and temporary work opportunities.
“I urge new graduates and jobseekers to be extra vigilant while searching for job opportunities. I want to encourage those who have applied for jobs to keep safe the reference number and the title of the job that they have applied for.
“Should someone phone or contact you, ask the caller for these specific details. If they cannot give you these details, then you should know that it is a bogus call,” Uys explained.
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Picture: Facebook