Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has contributed R60 000 as part of the efforts to revitalise a container library in Scottsville that has been targeted by criminals.
Terence Crowster, the founder of Hotspot Library Initiative SA, a non-profit organisation that runs the container library and does other charity work, said they had experienced seven break-ins in July alone (“Burglars threaten to close the book on Scottsville container library,” August 8).
Police said that they were aware of two break-ins.
A member of the mayor’s stakeholder team, Marvin Sampson went to present a cheque to Mr Crowster on Wednesday at the library.
“Libraries and safe learning spaces are so important. I was thrilled to learn about this library, and felt it was important to support it. Hopefully we can help get it back on its feet,” Mr Hill-Lewis told Northern News.
“I was happy to reach out to make a donation towards replacing all the stolen items, as well as towards securing the property, and we hope to see this library and the good people behind it go from strength to strength.”
Mr Crowster expressed gratitude to the mayor and Ms Hansen for recommending them to the mayor.
“This donation of finances will obviously be used to make this place a safer place but also to make sure that our work continues in the community, to serve the young people and enrich their minds with knowledge to discover their potential in everything that they do,” he said.
Ms Hansen said it was important to keep the library open for residents, especially the children, as there was no library in Scottsville and that the nearest library was in neighbouring Eikendal.
“Hotspot library is a beacon of hope for our children and it is disgusting for certain people to break into a library like that.
“Education is so important for our children and that is their future. Also, I just want to make a plea to the community, to take care of what they have. Children can do their homework there; they can study, it is a safe haven for them and it is under the nose of their parents,” she said.
