Two City of Cape Town employees were robbed at gunpoint while helping a ward councillor hand out donations to the elderly in Samora Machel.
The brazen thieves fired a shot into the air before robbing the female staffers of their cellphones on Wednesday afternoon.
Local councillor Sithembiso Mzobe says they were exiting the community hall when two young skelms appeared and demanded cellphones.
“We had just finished a briefing meeting and while we were making our way to the community, the two men appeared from nowhere, fired a shot and demanded a cellphone from one of the municipal workers,” he says.
After taking the cellphone, the diewe ran away, leaving workers traumatised.
Scores of residents gathered at the hall after hearing the gunshot.
“This is unacceptable and I have called on the community to work with the police to find these criminals,” says an upset Mzobe.
People from outside are already scared of coming to Samora due to criminals who are terrorising the community.”
Community member Njabulo Swartbooi, who witnessed the robbery, said the skelms were teenagers: “They are around 18 years old, both of them. That should raise a concern because those children should be in school.
“Is the government doing enough to give young people an alternative besides crime? Those are the questions we should be asking and work together as a community to find answers.”
Mzobe says despite the trauma, they decided to go ahead with handing out the donations of blankets, sanitisers and toiletries to 150 people in the area.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, condemned the robbery and says: “The City can confirm that four members of staff were assisting Councillor Mzobe in Samora Machel, with a Ward Allocation linked to older persons at the Weltevreden Hall on Wednesday, 24 March 2021.
“On leaving the building, two female staff members were approached by two gunmen who fired a shot and took the staff members’ cellphones.
“The matter was reported at the local SAPS, and all staff who were present at the incident have been offered support, including counselling.
“The City condemns this incident and we appeal to the community to come forward with any information that could help identify and trace the suspects involved.”