Lax security at Nelson Mandela Bay municipal properties has led to more than just a vandalism epidemic — in one instance this week library employees were held at gunpoint.
And, according to an unconfirmed report, a woman was allegedly raped at another library in the metro in early 2020.
The lack of security at municipal properties was under the spotlight during a sport, recreation, arts and culture (SRAC) portfolio committee meeting at the Kariega Town Hall on Friday.
The meeting heard that armed thugs held up employees of the KwaDwesi Library on Tuesday.
SRAC executive director Noxolo Nqwazi said three gunmen threatened the library workers and robbed them of their cellphones.
No injuries were reported but Nqwazi said the library was closed while officials organised counselling for the traumatised workers.
They would receive counselling on Monday.
DA councillor Margaret de Andrade told the meeting that people were no longer safe at libraries.
“We need to ensure that we have a safe space environment for our children and staff — it came to our attention that there was an alleged rape that took place at [a] library [in 2020],” she said.
Councillors agreed not to discuss the incident because of its sensitive nature and police spokesperson Capt Gerda Swart could not provide further particulars on Friday afternoon.
The committee heard, meanwhile, that vandalism of municipal buildings, including libraries, community halls and stadiums, had increased dramatically in recent years with damages running into the millions of rand.
None of the vandalised properties in the metro were protected by security guards.
And it does not look like there will be any, any time soon because the metro does not have a budget to properly secure its properties.
But SRAC executive director Noxolo Nqwazi said alarm systems would be fitted in buildings in the next 30 days.
Nqwazi said protecting municipal properties was the metro safety and security department’s competence.
“We request all the time, but I don’t say there could ever be sufficient security because the directorate on its own has 360 facilities. So it means 360 multiplied by two as we will need day and night security and that is probably the total number of securities that we need to have,” she said.
Nqwazi said unoccupied municipal buildings would be leased out.
“When people see the moment cars are parked at the facilities there would be less vandalism, and also the people using the office space would also take notice of everything going on,” she said, adding it was important for communities to play their part by guarding against vandalism.
In an interview, Nqwazi said the municipality was forced to fence off properties it had not intended to fence to deter would-be vandals.
“Some of these public facilities were not fenced when they were built for easy access, now as the directorate we are spending more money which would go to other things, fencing other facilities, and fencing is not less than R3m,” she said.
“Public parks and St George’s pools were not fenced for easy access for people but unfortunately [they have been] vandalised.”
Nqwazi said officials also needed to beef up security at blue flag beaches and were again considering roping in beach patrols employed through expanded public works programme.
Contacted for comment, safety and security political boss John Best said a tender for the burglar alarm systems to be installed in all municipal buildings had been advertised.
He said the municipality was in talks with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber on possible collaboration on how to further protect some municipal assets.
Municipal spokesperson Mamela Ndamase said random and regular patrols would be conducted at municipal properties.
“Where possible and necessary, security will be deployed,” she said.
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