A space where the ill and vulnerable are cared for is slowly but surely being destroyed “one brick at a time” and allegedly turning into a drug den.
St Luke’s Combined Hospices Grassy Park has been the target of vandals and “drug addicts”, who have been stealing “anything and everything”, from doors and burglar bars to wires and light beams, says hospice daycare coordinator Nadia Emjedi.
“It has constantly been happening, but the last straw was yesterday (Monday) when our shop door was taken off.
“They slowly started getting through the building day by day, weekend by weekend and then yesterday they got to our door of the shop, so obviously we had to do something about that. We removed everything that was left inside. We gave all our stuff away.
“The things we normally sell are 100% second hand and all profit usually goes to caring for our patients.”
A community activist, who asked not to be named out of fear of victimisation, says vandals started breaking through the roof.
Pointing at the roof of one of three buildings, she adds: “They got through there, then made their way stealing everything they could get their hands on as well as copper and wires. They sell it and burn it. Once they had everything inside, they started stealing the doors and whatever they could lay their hands on.”
She explains that most of the vandalism occurs during load shedding, but it happens all times of the day: “It is ten times worse during load shedding.”
Recalling a chilling incident, the community worker says a stranger walked into the hospice while patients and nurses were inside.
“He had a number 26 on his neck and he told the sister that he is going to take whatever he wants. He took the lights and walked out. We suggested that the nurses keep their front door open so that the neighbourhood watch could keep an eye on them.
“Now the security gate at the front door is also gone. Winter is coming and the door can’t be kept open because they are working with sick people. It is very sad.”
She further explained that one of the buildings had become a drug den.
“This is now a drug den. They also bring women here at night. This is a sleeping place. When I open the gates at 05:45 every morning, they move out of here.”
Emjedi says residents are too afraid to point out who the perpetrators are.
St Luke’s hospice daycare and charity shop has been running from the Grassy Park premises for more than 20 years and in that time there had been a few incidents of vandalism and intimidation, but it has suddenly escalated, she says.
“Before it was only minor and it is definitely the drug addicts.
“Hospice is an organisation that works for its own funds so it is hard to still pay for security. We see to most of our own expenses and the shop was one of the places where we got some of our income.”
The facility, which is not an in-patient facility, has daycare patients on Tuesdays.
“The vandals started at that building as well. The security gate at the front door is gone. They started knocking bricks out. They are knocking our windows out all the time which we have to replace.”
Emjedi concludes that security is desperately needed.
“We have reported the incident to the police and when we open a case, we receive an SMS a few days later that the case has been closed because there is no evidence.”
According to the City of Cape Town, plans are underway to post security guards at the site.
“The buildings at erf number 2621-RE, 388 4th Avenue, Lotus River, are City owned and there are three sections, two of the sections are leased to St Luke’s. We are aware of vandalism.
“There are plans in progress to post security guards and subsequently commence repairs.”
