Helen Suzman offices burgled

THE HELEN Suzman Foundation’s offices in Joburg have been burgled in what appears to have been a well- organised armed break-in.

The burglary took place just days after the foundation and legal NGO Freedom Under Law filed an urgent interdict at North Gauteng High Court calling for a review of the appointment of Hawks head Major-General Mthandazo Berning Ntlemeza.

On Sunday, armed men entered the parking garage and held up the unarmed security guards at the entrance of the building.

They then made their way to the second floor of the Parktown office building where they stole computers storing “important information”.

Director Francis Antonie said: “This was no ordinary robbery. The thieves knew exactly what they were after.

“We obviously do not know who they were, but we have our deep suspicions.”

He said the robbers forced the unarmed security guards to open the gate.

The foundation is one of several civic organisations which have embarked on litigation against the government in an attempt to “preserve and protect civil rights and freedoms under the constitution”.

Most recently the foundation and Freedom Under Law went after Ntlemenza by filing an urgent interdict calling for his suspension.

The foundation wanted the court to put a stop to Ntlemenza exercising his powers, pending a review of the processes which led to his appointment as Hawks boss.

He was appointed by Zuma, despite damning judicial findings which questioned his integrity, honesty and fitness to hold office.

The foundation and Freedom Under Law submitted to the court that Ntlemeza was not fit to hold office because he was found guilty of lying under oath.

Antonie said crime against a public non-profit organisation is an “example of the illegality running riot in the country”.