Monday, July 8, 2013

Council workers need police protection in CT

Cape Town - The City of Cape Town has had to deploy law enforcement officers to protect council workers who are upgrading housing projects in several areas, including Manenberg and Ottery.

“This year alone, 17 violent disruptions have occurred… most of which were gang-related. Employees of the city’s contractors and city officials have been shot at, threatened and intimidated,” said Thandeka Gqada, mayoral committee member for human settlements.

There have been six cases at the Ottery sites, and nine in Manenberg and Hanover Park. In the latest, on June 28, a worker was attacked and had to be taken by ambulance for treatment, said Gqada.

The city has also had to provide police protection for contractors cleaning toilets in the informal settlements of Barcelona and Kanana, where there have been attacks and a municipal vehicle has been torched.

Gqada said the attacks on municipal staff held up attempts to upgrade community residential units.

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