The City of Cape Town says the Athlone Library has reopened and been upgraded, after it was shut down for two weeks due to ongoing burglaries.

The City says during this time, several changes were made.

Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham says the library sustained severe damage to its roof while network and electrical cables, as well as water pipes, were stolen, leaving several plugs faulty and a minor water leak.

“The reopening of Athlone Library is good news for the community and the many patrons, young and old, who make use of it. I want to thank our patrons for their patience during the closure. We ask residents to work with us to protect these facilities and report anything suspicious. Only by working together can we stop the destruction of the public spaces that belong to all of us,” she added.

Higham says during the two-week break, several changes were made to improve the overall user experience, specifically for the SmartCape offering.

“Stronger Wi-Fi was installed, while the library’s SmartCape computers were distributed for availability in both the children’s and adult areas. The children’s team also took the Digital Reading Den programme into the community. This programme focuses on helping to combat illiteracy in schools and local communities.”

The City has since urged the community to help it safeguard public facilities, stressing that criminal acts should be reported to the relevant authorities.

“The City strongly condemns the acts of burglary and vandalism targeting public facilities. These crimes not only damage infrastructure but also directly impact residents by disrupting access to essential services, safe community spaces, and opportunities for learning and development.”