Burglary at NPA offices one of string of incidents

BURGLARS who broke into the Pretoria offices of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) during the early hours of yesterday morning stole laptops and hard drives belonging to two prosecutors.

NPA spokesman‚ Luvuyo Mfaku‚ confirmed TimesLIVE that thieves stole the laptops.

He, however, declined to say who the prosecutors were‚ what cases they worked on or how the burglary occurred‚ “as the matter is sensitive”.

The Times understands that the burglars managed to gain access to the highly secure building by bypassing multiple CCTV cameras and security guards on duty.

Once inside they made their way to the second floor where they entered two diagonally opposite offices, making off with the computers and other electronic devices.

The burglary comes less than a week after thieves‚ under similar circumstances‚ broke into the Hawks headquarters in Pretoria and stole computers containing staff employment information.

The information was under investigation by a specialised police anti-corruption unit‚ which was investigating appointments made by former Hawks boss Berning Ntlemeza.

Ntlemeza was fired by Police Minister Fikile Mbalula earlier this year.

His replacement‚ Lieutenant-General Yolisa Makataka‚ ordered the investigation into alleged irregularities around employment of staff into various positions within the Hawks.

It also follows the break-in at the Office of the Chief Justice earlier this year.

Mfaku said the burglary had occurred sometime between Sunday evening and yesterday morning and there was no sign of forced entry into the offices.

Mfaku said their internal security personnel were assisting police with their investigation.

Asked if they believed that the burglary was linked to the Hawks break-in‚ Mfaku said the police investigation would determine this.

A Hawks source said they would also be looking to see if any links could be made to the burglary at the Office of the Chief Justice‚ earlier this year. — DDC to