Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane felt first-hand the impact of escalating crime in the province as his home in the leafy suburb of Bunkers Hill, East London, was burgled at the weekend.
Electronic devices worth more than R40,000 and cellphones were taken.
Despite being well secured with high walls, police guards, electric fencing and CCTV cameras, Mabuyane’s home was broken into in the early hours of Sunday.
Though he confirmed the break-in, he declined to comment on Monday, saying the police were better placed to respond to questions also sent to his office.
The break-in is believed to have happened between 1am and 7am. It was spotted just before 7am by one of the police officers on guard at the premises, who noticed one of the house window panes had been removed.
Police spokesperson Lt-Col Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed the incident.
“One of the SAPS members posted at the premises noticed a window pane had been removed from the sitting room,” Mawisa said.
“Upon further investigation, it was discovered that electronic items, including a soundbar and a subwoofer speaker, with an estimated value of more than R42,000, were missing.”
A police insider said the break-in was discovered by a guard at the house, who informed Mabuyane’s domestic worker.
“She said as she started her daily duties she opened the sitting room curtains but didn’t notice anything at that time. While she was busy with her chores, she was called by one of the SAPS members posted at the premier’s residence, pointing out to her one window pane of the sitting room which was removed,” the insider said.
“The complainant then notified her employer, who is the wife of the premier.”
It is understood Mabuyane was not home at the time of the incident as he had spent the night at his home village of Ngcobo. He rushed back to his East London home after hearing about the burglary.
The incident comes barely two months after community safety MEC Xolile Nqatha released provincial crime statistics in Gqeberha, indicating a spike in home robberies in Buffalo City’s affluent suburbs.
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