FIVE SOCIAL WORKERS ROBBED AT GUNPOINT IN GQEBERHA

BY YOLANDA PALEZWENI

Five social workers were robbed at gunpoint in Gqeberha on Thursday outside an old age home.

This comes after social development MEC Bukiwe Fanta raised concerns about attacks on social workers earlier this week and called on the police to act swiftly.She revealed that 18 social workers had been held at gunpoint in the northern areas, New Brighton, KwaMagxaki and western suburbs of the city.

On Thursday, the five social workers were robbed of their possessions including cellphones.

The keys to a government vehicle were thrown onto a nearby rooftop.

“The recent armed robbery has now pushed up the number of social workers that have been robbed,” Fanta said.

“We really cannot operate in conditions where each and every social worker has to be escorted for them to do their work.

“It is unacceptable and I’m planning to have a meeting with the provincial police commissioner to discuss interventions.

“But I must say it again that communities need to work with us and protect our social workers.”

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the social workers were robbed in Mlisane Street, Zwide, at about 10am.

She said they had been travelling in a minibus and stopped in the street to collect equipment.
The suspects robbed all the occupants in the vehicle of their cellphones and fled,” Janse van Rensburg said.

No-one was injured. Police are investigating
While waiting, three people approached them.