DA councillor suffers R11 000 in damages

On the late afternoon of Monday 30 September repairs were being done at a DA councillor’s house after a housebreaking.

Timothy Radebe who serves as Councillor for Ward 44 and 49 (Bram Fischerville) invited the Record to see the damages he suffered.

At around 1pm his wife Thoko (59) was relaxing in their living room while the youngest daughter, Zanele (19) was in the bathroom of their house in Stumke Street.

“I heard this strange knocking, thumping sound and asked Zanele what she was doing,” Thoko told the Record.

Moments later glass shattered and Thoko, who spends most of her day in a wheelchair, wheeled over to see what the fuss was about.

“I caught them in the act and froze, knowing there’s not much I can do.

“I asked what they were doing and I was told to keep quiet by the tsotsi [sic].

“By the way they were casually continuing their job, knowing that I’m incapacitated, I could tell that they’ve been studying our movements.”

Thoko says that the three suspects, and a fourth was waiting in a vehicle outside, got away with a plasma television set and a DVD player, remotes included.

These items were taken from one of the daughters’ bedroom and was the cause of the sound that disturbed Thoko as they broke the window to get in.

“They didn’t go into any other room and jumped over the front wall,” she explained, pointing out pieces of what is presumed to be the plasma television stand on the front lawn next to the swimming pool.

Timothy is relieved that his wife and child weren’t harmed, but says that “this land is not safe”.

He estimates the total loss and damages of the housebreaking at R11 000, including the window that had to be replaced.

“Hierdie land gaan tamatiestraat toe [sic],” an upset Timothy said as a new window was fitted.

The Radebes opened a case of housebreaking and theft with the Roodepoort police.