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The disabled residents of Andries Olivier Quadriplegics Centre in Durbanville are traumatised after two incidents – the latest on Monday in which a man armed with a knife gained access to their property in Hafele Street.
The residents of the home asked the City of Cape Town’s parks department on Tuesday, after the latest incident on Monday, to cut overhanging branches of a tree in a park adjacent to their property but had no response to their emails by this morning (Friday 18 August).
According to Rosabelle Riese, committee member for administration of the home, the perpetrator tried to open the window to a resident’s room at about 19:30, with the resident helplessly looking on.
“He could not gain access but then came back at 22:00 and pointed a knife at a carer in the backyard where the staff quarters are. She started to scream, and the man ran off,” Riese says.
It was confirmed on video footage that the perpetrator used the overhanging branches of the bluegum tree to climb over their electric fence, Riese says.
In the other incident about six weeks ago another vulnerable resident of the home was lying in bed, looking on while a burglar broke a window in his room with a brick and grabbed his laptop through the window.
“Needless to say, he was inconsolable and scared for his life for a long while afterwards,” says Riese.
“Sadly, we have had no response (from the City) yet. Shall we wait for a tragedy to take place before we get a response from those who are placed in pivotal roles to be of service to the public before something constructive is done?
“As a vulnerable group of people, both disabled residents and the staff who take care of us on a full-time basis, we implore you to view our appeal in a very serious light. We are traumatised and very concerned for our safety,” she says.
On enquiry by TygerBurger earlier today the City’s recreation and parks department confirmed that the request for pruning was investigated.
“The tree has been listed for pruning within the next two weeks to prevent it from being used as access onto the neighbouring property,” a spokesperson for the City says.
- Residents can submit requests for pruning by submitting a service request via CCT Service Requests (capetown.gov.za) or send an email RP.enquiries@capetown.gov.za.
