LGBTI+ group’s buses vandalised in Pretoria

An LGBTI+ group’s outreach services have been put on hold after vandals damaged its buses during the festive season.

Access Chapter 2 (AC2) revealed that the criminals broke into the vehicles on 3 January, damaging the buses’ storage compartments. A microwave and HIV testing tents and equipment were taken.

Alongside the AC2 buses, an undisclosed amount of copper belonging to the church property where the vehicles were parked was also stripped and stolen.

The buses are comprehensive mobile clinics that were donated to AC2 by the Human Science Research Council.

They are used to provide off-site health services to the queer community in Gauteng, including much-needed HIV testing and treatment, PEP, PrEP and other services.

“As an organisation that relies on limited resources, such as these outreach buses, we view this as an attack on the work we do,” said AC2 spokesperson Mpho Buntse.

“This is also a deliberate attack on the recipients of many of our life-saving interventions and services,” he added.

As a result of the incident, the organisation’s outreach services have been disrupted but will resume as soon as possible.

On-site health services at 1st Floor JSL Towers, 255 Pretorius St, Pretoria Central, will resume on 9 January 2024.

A case of theft and breaking and entering was opened at the Pretoria Police Station.

AC2 has urged anyone with information about the break-in to come forward.