Social Justice Coalition members returned to work today to find their Khayelitsha offices had been burgled. Photo by SJC.
5 January 2015
Social Justice Coalition (SJC) members returned to work today after the holidays to find their offices trashed.
A photocopy machine, toilet doors, taps and tables were among the items stolen. The thieves also broke windows and cut the alarm system wires and telephone wires.
SJC member Nomlungisi Qezo said when she and others arrived for work this morning the place was “a complete mess”.
The Shawco Centre, where the SJC offices are situated, has an electrical gate, but Qezo said thieves had cut through the wire fencing to gain entry. “This could be the fifth time a burglary has taken place here. The place we are situated in is not safe. Day in and day out SJC members are mugged on their way home, either at knife or gun point because thieves want cellphones and money”.
The centre is in Mongezi Road, one of the crime hotspots in Khayelitsha. It is next to Pama Road where robberies and muggings are frequent.
Two years ago, more than 100 community members marched to Lingelethu Police Station in Khayelitsha demanding a greater police presence in high-crime areas in the township. Their memorandum stated that there had been several attempted break-ins at the SJC offices, as well as one successful break-in on 10 September 2012 when the receptionist’s computer was stolen.
They also demanded increased police visibility at all crime hot spots in Khayelitsha, including Pama Road, Bonga Drive, Mongezi Drive, Njongo Road, Lwandle Road and Dada Street.
The SJC’s Axolile Notywala said today the organisation was already looking for new office space in Khayelitsha. This had been discussed last month, after thieves broke into the offices and stole a laptop.
“We don’t feel safe in our offices anymore and we are busy right now looking for a place that we can move to, because we do not want to go back to Shawco,” said Notywala.
A case has been opened at the Lingelethu Police Station.