DA urges speedy probe into Helen Suzman Foundation robbery
Saying it had “the hallmarks of a meticulously planned and executed military-style raid”‚ the Democratic Alliance (DA) added its voice to suggestions of a sinister motive behind a robbery at the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF).
"This was no ordinary robbery"‚ said HSF director Francis Antonie on Monday‚ a day after the hit on its Parktown‚ Johannesburg offices.
“The thieves knew exactly what they were after. We obviously do not know who they were‚ but we have our deep suspicions.”
Also harbouring suspicions was the DA‚ which said: |While armed crime is at high levels in South Africa and has been for several years‚ this robbery‚ given the target‚ raises an eyebrow.”
The opposition party said “the timing is dubious”‚ coming “four days after the HSF and Freedom Under Law launched an urgent application seeking…to interdict Lieutenant-General Berning Ntlemeza from exercising any power or discharging any function or duty as the head of the Hawks (the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation)”.
“Given Ntlemeza’s crucial position as Nhleko’s sidekick in their hitman operations against politically inconvenient or ‘troublesome’ individuals‚ the success of this interdict would obviously be a major stumbling block in their ongoing efforts to protect President Jacob Zuma and his allies or friends from independent investigations‚” the DA said.
The DA also said that the “precision and orchestration seem to be well above the pay-grade of run-of-the-mill criminal syndicates” raised a flag‚ as did reports that “when a policeman from Hillbrow police station arrived to take a statement at the HSF offices‚ he refused to do so once he was told about the work of the foundation and the court cases it has been involved been in”.
The DA claimed the police officer said that this “circumstance was above him and he would have to take it to his superiors”.
“This is very irregular because‚ whatever that means‚ the correct procedure is for a statement to be taken by the local police station after a crime is committed and from there‚ a case can be transferred or escalated for further investigation if it is deemed to be of priority status or a specialised nature‚” the DA opined.
It added that it would “be writing to law enforcement requesting a speedy investigation and that Parliament be briefed on the events that surrounding this robbery”.
An HSF statement on Monday said robbers held “up an unarmed security guard at the entrance to the premises…made directly for the HSF’s offices on the second floor of the building and removed its computers”.
"After forcing the guard to open the gate‚ the invaders drove their vehicle into the basement of the building‚ where they knew there was a lift to the second floor‚” Antonie said.
“Other businesses in the building were left alone. Nothing else of value besides the computers was taken.”
Although it did not say he was responsible‚ the HSF statement noted that among the issues it had recently embarked on “litigation against the government” on was one seeking “to interdict Ntlemeza‚ from exercising his powers”.
This interdict‚ done in conjunction with Freedom under Law‚ sought to remove Ntlemeza “pending a review of the processes leading to his appointment”. The HSF said he was appointed by President Jacob Zuma “notwithstanding previously damning judicial findings impugning his integrity‚ honesty and fitness”.
"This action against a public-interest NGO is an example of the illegality running riot in our country‚” Antonie said.
“We deplore it. The HSF wants nothing more than a country which protects its citizens’ rights through the due process of law.
“The HSF calls on all civil society organisations‚ the business community as well as the public at large to stand together and speak out loudly in defence of the ever-growing threat to the hard-won freedoms enshrined in our Constitution.”
