The Kensington Community Day Centre (CDC) was broken into over the weekend, despite the hospital having security guards on duty on the premises.
Robbers ripped out cabling, stole computers, equipment and medication.
The City of Cape Town has since partially shut down the facility and patients were redirected to other nearby clinics.
The skelms broke through a fence and gained entry into the building by breaking open the security gates and doors, before systematically working their way through the various rooms, including the medication stock room.
The thugs also broke down the doors of locked offices, and left behind their screwdrivers which they used to remove hard drives from computers, leaving only the empty metal boxes.
Devastated staff and patients arrived at the clinic on Monday morning, only to be denied access as police officers inspected the building.
Laeekah Johnson, 71, had a doctor’s appointment and also came to collect her chronic medication, but was referred to Maitland Community Day Centre.
“I could still call my son to come get me, it is a great inconvenience, but what about those who don’t have a helping hand?
RIPPED: Skelms removed hard drives from computers
“I hope the police catch these criminals. Our people must not buy stolen items,” she said.
Western Cape Health spokesperson, Monique Johnstone, said electricity cables have been damaged.
“Minimal services are currently being offered at the Kensington CDC due to the vandalism and theft which took place over the weekend of 3 to 5 May at the facility.
Meds stolen
“There is no power supply and all electronic and medical equipment, including non-medical items, have been stolen or damaged, and therefore services cannot operate optimally.”
Patients can go to Maitland CDC while emergencies will be directed to Vanguard CHC until further notice.
Kensington Community Policing Forum chairperson, Erica Isaacs, encourages the community to piemp the skelms: “We ask the residents to keep their ears and eyes open should they see or hear anything.
“We can only fight these crimes with assistance from community members.”
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, says a case of burglary is under investigation and there have been no arrests.