Alert – Possible con-man spotted in several areas
Please refer to the Media Release issued by the City of Cape Town further down
We received the following alert as if it was coming from the City of Cape Town. The information is not yet confirmed, but it can serve as a reminder not to trust anyone and rather to be safe than sorry.
“3 or 4 AFRICAN guys are coming around
- claiming they are from Water Services to install shower heads to save water!
- Or they will say they’re from Eskom to change light bulbs for free!
- or put in reflective lights on ur gate.
They have already been spotted in several areas. Please do not let those people into your homes. They are robbers robbing people at gun point. Please send to all your contacts it might save someone…”
Report any such incidents immediately to the Control Room
LATER TODAY
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
5 DECEMBER 2013
MEDIA RELEASE
Beware of criminals posing as City and Eskom officials
The City of Cape Town would like to warn residents that criminals have been posing as City officials in order to rob households in various areas. Reports have been received from Pinelands and surrounding areas including Observatory and Mowbray. Residents are urged to demand that City identify cards are presented before letting anyone into their homes. Read more below:
It has come to our attention that individuals are approaching households within Pinelands and surrounding areas, claiming that they are from the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Department and that they need to install shower heads to save water. On some occasions they claim that they are from Eskom and need to install new bulbs or put reflective lights on the gates. The reports we have received indicate that these individuals are criminals who are robbing residents at gunpoint, and not City officials.
The City is not running these programmes and these individuals are not working for the City. It is the City’s practice to inform our residents ahead of the time when we are going to be running programmes or projects in their areas.
The City urges residents to be aware of these scams and ask individuals for their City of Cape Town identity cards before letting them into their homes. In fact, these identify cards should, as a matter of procedure, be clearly visible on the person at all times. This card will display a photo of the official. All City of Cape Town staff are issued with these cards.
You have the right to insist on seeing the card before allowing someone to enter your home. If you are in any way unsure, please call the City of Cape Town’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089. For water and sanitation specifically, you can send an e-mail to watertoc@capetown.gov.za or an SMS to 31373; for electricity specifically, send an e-mail to power@capetown.gov.za or an SMS to 31220 to verify the identity of the official.
The safety of our residents should, under no circumstances, be compromised.
If you notice any suspicious activity in the community, please report it to the South African Police Services and the City of Cape Town’s Call Centre.
End
Issued by: Integrated Strategic Communication and Branding Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, City of Cape Town
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
24 Hour CONTROL ROOM:
0860 123 VSC
0860 123 872
021-981 2040
021-945 1180 (SJC Control Room)
PATROLLING VEHICLE:
073 647 3135
VCID OFFICE (8:30am - 4:30pm):
021 981 3303 manager@vredekloof.co.za
Brackenfell Police Station:
021 980 5700
SAPS Sector 4 Policing (Vredekloof):
079 894 1427
Power Failures:
(General, prepaid, loadshedding and faults)
0860 103 089
Water Services:
0860 103 054
CoCT Service Delivery Complaints
For All service delivery complaints make use of the C3 electronic Reporting System:
e-mail:contact.us@capetown.gov.za
SMS 31373 (160 characters) or
Phone 0860 103 089
This C3 reporting system ensures that your contact is logged & a reference number will track progress.