Cape Times

Malicious attack on council office slammed

- STAFF WRITER

THE city’s Macassar municipal office has been rendered unusable after a group of “militants” accosted security guards and forced their way on to the premises and set tyres alight inside the building.

This was the second time the facility has come under attack this year. The first occurred on April 30 when part of the building was damaged in violent protests.

The section of the building that was spared in the last incident was damaged on Tuesday, rendering it unusable, said mayoral assets and facilities management mayoral committee member Stuart Diamond.

He said a group of men from a local informal settlement were behind the recent attack.

According to the shaken security guards, the men were looking for the local ward councillor, he said.

“This wanton destructio­n of city facilities has become the norm and we once again condemn the attack in the strongest possible terms.

“The municipal office provides a vital service, especially to the most vulnerable residents who will now have to make their way to other city facilities for assistance, incurring unnecessar­y expenses in the process.

“No one benefits… it could well be family and friends of the very same men who are now being placed at a bigger disadvanta­ge due to the malicious intent and behaviour of the group,” said Diamond.

Anyone with informatio­n about the incident can anonymousl­y contact Crime Stop at 086 00 10 111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa