R200 000 worth of assets stolen from ADC

The Alexandra Development Centre has lost assets worth R80 000 in a third burglary within five months.

The burglary suspected to have taken place on 28 February resulted in the theft of 19 computers, 19 screens and 5 keyboards from the centre’s computer lab. The thieves gained entry by breaking a wall and window with burglar bars. Previous thefts happened in August 2013 when 7 computers and a printer were taken and the second in September when 21 computers and screens were taken.

Describing the incident, a distraught Mabel Dikobe who is the Centre’s Board Chairperson said the loss was a major blow to the skills development of the Alexandra community in particular their children. “The assets which have been stolen were acquired through a partnership with the Departmnent of Social Development for training 200 unemployed youths in computer skills. This incident happened just after we had completed training 40 youths making a total of 180 already trained. The remaining 20 are supposed to start next week and we are worried that we may not be able to honour our commitment as besides the computers, we also need to repair and secure the damaged wall and window where the thieves also gained entry the second time,” she said.

The computer course is free and part of a programme which also includes refrigeration and cashering training. According to Lefa Molefe, the Centre Manager, the centre is lucky that the other courses are not inhouse otherwise the loss would have been huge and more difficult to explain to the department (the funder). He expressed concern that when the burglary happened, the alarm which had been set and is in good working order didn’t activate. “I appeal to the Alexandra community to appreciated and protect community organisations, their work and assets which are all meant for their upliftment.

The case was reported to the Alexandra Police Station.