Lack of security laid bare
THE burglaries at key installations within the justice, crime prevention and security cluster point to gaps in security measures, the chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on police has said.
“It’s vital that there should be the necessary security measures at key installations within the justice and security cluster. This is non-negotiable,” said François Beukman yesterday, following the overnight break-in at the North Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions in Pretoria.
“It think the recent breakins indicate that there is indeed a certain lack in the application of security measures. The necessary steps must be taken by accounting officers to step up security so that there’s confidence from the public that confidential information will be held securely,” Beukman said.
The National Prosecuting Authority yesterday confirmed that the offices of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in Pretoria was burgled. “They (thieves) broke into two offices on the second floor, diagonally opposite each other, and stole two computers,” said NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku.
The police are investigating the burglary, but Mfaku would not divulge the names of the prosecutors whose laptops were stolen or the cases they were working on.
The burglary came less than a week after the headquarters of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, was broken into.
Financial information, supply-chain management and human resources files were stolen during the break-in.
Beukman said the acting head of the Hawks, Yolisa Matakata, would be called before the committee on August 4 for a full briefing and to report back on the burglary.
“The burglary at the Hawks’ offices was a huge concern for the portfolio committee because they are tasked with investigating serious and organised crime. There should be extraordinary measures in place to ensure that there can’t be break-ins or any attempts to obtain information illegally,” said Beukman.
“We will also want assurance that countrywide there are efforts to ensure that the Hawks’ offices are properly secured to ensure there won’t be a repeat of what happened last week,” he added.
The two latest burglaries follow similar break-ins at the office of the chief justice, where computers with the employment information of judges and other staff were stolen. The alleged mastermind behind the burglary was arrested in March and released on bail of R5 000.
During the court proceedings, Nkosinathi Msimango claimed he had no knowledge of the break-in.
Beukman said while he couldn’t comment on police operational matters, the breakins pointed to serious security breaches. “It is a concern that there is a pattern emerging and therefore it’s important for a breakthrough to ensure the culprits are brought to book,” he added.
Hawks’ head office and office of chief justice were also targeted