A Cape Flats organisation cannot continue operating after heartless skelms stole the battery of their van in Lavender Hill on Monday.
Lucinda Evans of Philisa Abafazi Bethu SA says elderly people, children and fire victims will now suffer as they are unable to transport people and food as a result of the theft.
She says the van, which was donated to the organisation four years ago, was parked in the yard of her home in Hilary Drive and yesterday as they were preparing to go to court they found that the battery had been stolen.
“They took the gate off the rails and there was a small space where someone could climb through,” she explains.
“They forced the window open, got inside the van and cut the cables and removed the battery. This caused the alarm to deactivate and now the van is dead.
“We don’t know what damage they caused and will now have to get an auto electrician to help us and we cannot afford that.
STRIPPED: Battery gesteel
“We use the van to transport elderly people and children from the after-school programme and now we are stuck. We were supposed to go help a woman at court today but cannot go.”
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, confirms the matter was reported and says: “No arrest has been made as yet. A theft out of motor vehicle case had been reported.”
Lucinda is now calling on residents to piemp the skelms and to assist the organisation.
“I am very disappointed and the community will now suffer. We are still taking food to the fire victims in Overcome and now we cannot do that,” she laments.
Anyone who can assist is asked to call 073 424 4665.