Last year SmartCape users and library staff have suffered due to theft and vandalism of Smartcape computers. Early this year in March, Mfuleni Public Library was vandalised. August this year, the same library was vandalised. The thieves came through the emergency escape and took all the equipments. The case was reported but the police couldn't find anything.

It is becoming an increasingly serious problem, with more and more communities being affected. SmartCape delivers a valuable service to more than 150 000 users across the City Of Cape Town.  SmartCape users use the facility for typing CVs, and searching and applying for jobs. We have a large number of people who use SmartCape to help them run their businesses e.g. they send and receive emails, take email orders, read advertisements and tenders etc. Learners use SmartCape to help them with their homework and school projects. Library staff refers learners to the internet on SmartCape for their research, and sometimes they help them find and print the correct information.

SmartCape users are shocked, frustrated and very angry about the thefts.  They feel that a theft from SmartCape is a theft from the community as a whole.  In Mfuleni Library there is no SmartCape equipment at all, meaning that there is no free computer and internet access in the community.  Users who need computer and internet access have to go to Moses Mabhida or to another library, which is expensive because they have to pay for the travel costs.  The loss of SmartCape is clearly a great loss simply because the opportunity for people to learn about technology has been taken away. 

These criminals have robbed their communities of a valuable resource. SmartCape keeps our users informed and empowered, and it leads the way towards social and economic development. SmartCape brings its users hope – it opens up channels to new opportunities.  So, stealing from SmartCape is stealing the hope and dreams from your own community, family and friends, and this should not and must not be tolerated. 

We invite all our SmartCape users to work together with us to fight theft and vandalism of our facilities. If someone has solid evidence of such an act, we urge you to come forward.  Report it to your nearest library or to the police, or email us at info(at)smartcape.org.za.  Or report the theft to the Crime Line. SMS's could be sent to 32211 at a cost of R1.00 each or log onto the crimeline to report the theft.

Help us protect and nurture this project which brings such enormous benefit to the lives of so many of our fellow citizens in Cape Town.