Are Now the Ones Who Need Protection
Reporter – George C. April
Cape Town,:- It’s honestly heartbreaking.
In just seven months, September 2024 to March 2025.
City Law Enforcement had to carry out 1,925 safety escorts for service delivery teams. That’s 275 escorts a month, just to protect people doing their jobs—fixing water pipes, restoring power, maintaining sanitation.
And where?
Right in the heart of the Cape Flats and township areas, places that cry out every day for help, for services, for a better life.
But now we have to ask: How can anything improve if the people trying to help are being attacked?
These teams aren’t armed forces or law enforcement officers. They’re ordinary people, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, risking their lives to bring basic services into desperate areas.
They don’t come with guns or bad intentions. They come with tools and hard hats. And still, they’re treated like threats.
It’s a sad reflection of the pain and mistrust that’s built up in our communities. But hurting the helpers? That’s not the answer. That’s like burning your own house down and blaming the firefighters for not saving it fast enough.
Something must change. Because if service teams have to run for their lives instead of helping, then where does hope go?
Let’s protect those who show up for us -before no one wants to come anymore.
