The office of Buffalo City Metro (BCM) ANC ward councillor Monwabisi Mahodi was broken into yesterday morning, and a computer with “vital” information stored on it was allegedly stolen.
Mahodi said this was the second time the office at Bush Bucks stadium in Amalinda, allocated to him by BCM, had been burgled.
The councillor said the same thing happened last year, prompting him to hire a private security company, which he said he paid for from his own pocket.
Referring to the latest incident, Mahodi said he received a call from ADT armed response company at about 1am alerting him that the alarm at the office had been triggered. “The security personnel went to the office and 30 minutes later I received a call from them informing me of the burglary,” said Mahodi.
He arrived to find the door broken, his office ransacked, some furniture damaged and a newly bought computer missing. “The perpetrators broke into the storeroom and got hold of tools, which they apparently used to force open the burglar gate and door.” Mahodi said a pick-axe was found inside the office.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed that a case of burglary at a business premises had been opened at the Cambridge police station.
Mahodi said his requests to council for security measures to be put in place at the office had fallen on deaf ears. “After the first burglary last year I requested that a security guard be appointed on site but that never happened,” he said.
“I am now paying out of my own pocket to secure municipal property.”
Mahodi claimed this was not the only bill he had to foot on behalf of the municipality. “I pay for the secretary’s salary and also had to install a landline at the office.”
The councillor said the information stored on the computer was important and included the outcome of his weekly and monthly meetings, and his ward development plan.
“I did not back-up the information, so it’s all lost,” he said.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said all BCM assets were insured and Mahodi’s computer would be replaced once his claim was settled. Asked about security measures, Ngesi said: “The public safety directorate is in processes of appointing additional security guards to man the municipal properties. The building maintenance section will go and inspect the extent of damage and work on fixing it.”
‘Vital’ information on stolen computer
Mahodi said this was the second time the office at Bush Bucks stadium in Amalinda, allocated to him by BCM, had been burgled.
The councillor said the same thing happened last year, prompting him to hire a private security company, which he said he paid for from his own pocket.
Referring to the latest incident, Mahodi said he received a call from ADT armed response company at about 1am alerting him that the alarm at the office had been triggered. “The security personnel went to the office and 30 minutes later I received a call from them informing me of the burglary,” said Mahodi.
He arrived to find the door broken, his office ransacked, some furniture damaged and a newly bought computer missing. “The perpetrators broke into the storeroom and got hold of tools, which they apparently used to force open the burglar gate and door.” Mahodi said a pick-axe was found inside the office.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed that a case of burglary at a business premises had been opened at the Cambridge police station.
Mahodi said his requests to council for security measures to be put in place at the office had fallen on deaf ears. “After the first burglary last year I requested that a security guard be appointed on site but that never happened,” he said.
“I am now paying out of my own pocket to secure municipal property.”
Mahodi claimed this was not the only bill he had to foot on behalf of the municipality. “I pay for the secretary’s salary and also had to install a landline at the office.”
The councillor said the information stored on the computer was important and included the outcome of his weekly and monthly meetings, and his ward development plan.
“I did not back-up the information, so it’s all lost,” he said.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said all BCM assets were insured and Mahodi’s computer would be replaced once his claim was settled. Asked about security measures, Ngesi said: “The public safety directorate is in processes of appointing additional security guards to man the municipal properties. The building maintenance section will go and inspect the extent of damage and work on fixing it.”
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