The ANC in the Moses Mabhida region suffered a major blow on Wednesday morning after burglars made off with a computer tower storing crucial information during a break-in at the party’s regional offices in Hoosen Haffejee Street in Pietermaritzburg.

According to sources within the ANC, the break-in occurred at about 05:00 as security guards were changing shifts, reports The Witness.

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After breaking a back window and knocking off a burglar bar, the intruders entered the office of ANC regional co-ordinator Zet Luzipho, disconnected the tower from his computer and left the monitor behind.

They then moved to the adjacent office and broke through the ceiling to reach the administration office.

It appeared they abandoned the effort after security guards heard suspicious sounds at the back of the building.

Information stored on the computer included details and minutes from ANC branch general meetings (BGMs) in which councillor candidates were nominated for the November local government elections.

A second source told The Witness that the break-in appeared to be an inside job.

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“Where have you heard of burglars making off with a tower and leaving behind a monitor, speakers and other items of value?”

“What is clear is these people knew what they were after. They were clearly after specific information and documents.

“This is why after they were done with the regional co-ordinator’s office, they went for the admin office where most of the ANC documents are kept.

“In my view these are not ordinary criminals – there are people with vested interest in what is currently happening within the ANC in the region,” the source said.

ANC Moses Mabhida region convenor Nathi Mdladla said the regional leadership was aware of the break-in.

“The last time I checked, some comrades were busy with the process of opening a criminal case,” he said.

Mdladla stated that a full audit is underway to determine exactly what was taken.

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He said the region remained on course to conclude its councillor candidate nomination process that weekend, with about 70% of branches having successfully concluded their BGMs and the remainder in the process of doing so.

The break-in occurred days before the conclusion of the region’s nomination process.

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