A Cape Flats library has been shut down after skollies burgled the City of Cape Town facility, threatened staff and are now demanding protection money.
For the past two months, laaities in Clarke Estate have been walking nearly two kilometres to access the Elsies River Library after the Adriaanse Library closed its doors.
Mayco Member for Community Services, Zahid Badroodien, says the library was first shut on 15 February due to serious safety and security concerns.
“The library’s new speakers were stolen on 12 February and a member of the public alerted the staff to this and also gave information on who the perpetrators were,” he explains.
“Due to the swift reaction of the library staff, Law Enforcement and the South African Police Service, the two speakers were found and returned to the library.”
Badroodien says since then, staff have been harassed, threatened and instructed to pay “protection money” by young skollies.
FEAR: Staff want their safety at work to be guaranteed. Photo: Photo: Monique Duval
“The staff fear for their lives and are very traumatised by this matter. The staff do not want to return to the library, unless their safety can be guaranteed.”
It is not clear what amount of money the thugs demanded from the staff.
He says the library re-opened on 4 March, but just two days later the skollies came back and burgled the facility.
“There was extensive damage to the roof, as the thieves gained entry through there.
“IT equipment has been stolen, cupboard doors have been damaged and SmartCape equipment, as well as WiFi routers, were stolen,” he says.
“The library is still closed until further notice, as repairs are being done. Since the incident of 6 March, the library has overnight security.”
Residents say skollies under the age of 20 are behind the burglaries and that protection money has become “easy money for them”.
In Clarke Estate and Eureka Estate, there are gangs of laaities under 20 - calling themselves the Apostles, Disciples and Injas - behind the smash-and-grabs in the area.
A shocked Imraahn Mukaddam of the Elsies River Community Police Forum (CPF) says they are aware of the burglaries but not the threats to library staff.
HOTSPOT: Adriaanse Library in Elsies River is closed after burglaries and threats to staff. Photo: Monique Duval
“This is the first time we hear they are asking for protection money. During a holiday programme, we noticed that Elsies River Library was full because the children are walking from Clarke Estate to get to a library. This is very serious because the children are now at risk,” he says.
Badroodien urged residents to piemp the skollies: “We need the community to assist us, we can’t do this on our own.”
Incidents can be reported to Law Enforcement by dialling 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.