Computer theft at PSJ ‘inside job’

CONFIDENTIAL personnel files on computers and printed copies were stolen from Port St Johns municipality at the weekend.

The theft took place on Saturday night at the human resources, legal and economic development offices. Only two computers were stolen.

PSJ mayor Phikolomzi Langa said they were trying to work out what was stolen. “There is some major information of the institution in that department. The communication and legal departments were also affected.

“Some computers were left behind – a laptop as well.

“This clearly tells you there a motive to steal specific computers.”

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) believes there may have been more to the theft.

It emerged that days earlier a senior manager appeared before a disciplinary inquiry panel on bribery allegations. It was alleged the manager had solicited bribes from prospective employees to secure a job.

Langa said the security company, Tyeks, could not tell him what exactly happened that night, although their guards had been on duty.

“There are a number of serious activities taking place. We have a suspended manager going through a hearing and there is a probe over a plant purchased by the municipality.

“We do not want this theft to affect those processes,” said Langa.

Samwu leader Zamekile Pato said the HR department should not have been in prefabricated offices.

“We said it from the get-go that they cannot take the heart of the municipality and place it in prefabs. Now we have [these two matters] and we lose computers and files. We believe this is an inside job. No one can break into three offices and not be seen.”

Khaya Mbangwa of Tyeks Security said: “We are in the process of investigating where our security guards were during the break-in.

“We told them not to report for duty the day after the robbery, we suspended them immediately. We told them that they must speak the truth and reveal exactly what happened.”—