The two cameras, which covered both directions, were erected on 15 August about 300 m before the new stop sign at the entrance to D’Urbanvale.

The cost of one camera, which is also equipped with bulletproof glass and lenses, amounts to about R250 000, was said at an earlier meeting of residents with Ms Helen Zille, executive mayor of the City of Cape Town.

However, last Saturday just after 16:30 one of the cameras was found pushed over, apparently by an off-road vehicle. The knock-on was so severe that the pole snapped.

Mr George Sieraha, chairperson of the D’Urbanvale Residents’ Forum and the Durbanville Community Forum, expressed his utmost disappointment and anger about the “senseless act”.

“The camera was deliberately pushed over. This was no accident.

“If this was, there would have been skid marks or some debris.

“Judging by the tyre tracks this looks like a 4x4 type vehicle,” Sieraha said.

According to Sieraha he was told that when the cameras were erected, a driver of a Ford F250 four wheel drive bakkie, verbally abused the technical team about the erection of the speed cameras.

When this man drove off in a huff, he even drove over the safety cones, he was told, he said.

The cameras were erected after Zille announced several traffic calming measures at a meeting with D’Urbanvale residents.

The other traffic measures include regular speedtrapping, a three-way stop in Vissershok Road at the entrance to D’Urbanvale, signage to prevent heavy construction vehicles from passing through the neighbourhood, as well as a speed bump with a pedestrian crossing in Mosselbank River Road.

The D’Urbanvale Residents Forum has over the past few years often complained to authorities about the dangerous traffic situation in D’Urbanvale, but without success.

Zille was invited to the meeting by the forum by enraged residents after Mrs Delene van der Merwe was killed when hit by a car while jogging in Vissershok Road.

According to Sieraha criminal charges about the vandalism will follow, whether it be laid by the City of Cape Town or the Durbanville Community Forum.

His suggestions to the city to consider some protection for the speed cameras were not met with enthusiasm, he said. His one plan was to have big rocks placed around the poles carrying the cameras.

Sieraha urged anyone with more information about who the culprit was, to contact him on 082 490 7628.