{"id":50063,"date":"2023-08-18T15:37:10","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T13:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/quadriplegics-traumatised-after-burglary-attempted-robbery-at-their-durbanville-home-20230818\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T22:19:49","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T20:19:49","slug":"quadriplegics-traumatised-after-burglary-attempted-robbery-at-their-durbanville-home-20230818","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/quadriplegics-traumatised-after-burglary-attempted-robbery-at-their-durbanville-home-20230818\/","title":{"rendered":"Quadriplegics traumatised after burglary, attempted robbery at their Durbanville home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The disabled residents of Andries Olivier Quadriplegics Centre in Durbanville are traumatised after two incidents \u2013 the latest on Monday in which a man armed with a knife gained access to their property in Hafele Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The residents of the home asked the City of Cape Town\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Rosabelle Riese, committee member for administration of the home, the perpetrator tried to open the window to a resident\u2019s room at about 19:30, with the resident helplessly looking on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe 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,\u201d Riese says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNeedless to say, he was inconsolable and scared for his life for a long while afterwards,\u201d says Riese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSadly, 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs 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,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On enquiry by TygerBurger<\/em> earlier today the City\u2019s recreation and parks department confirmed that the request for pruning was investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe tree has been listed for pruning within the next two weeks to prevent it from being used as access onto the neighbouring property,\u201d a spokesperson for the City says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n