'Why would they steal from me?'

2008-05-21 14:09

Thabisile Khoza & Mandla Khoza

Malalane - A rural businessman has offered a R10 000 reward to anyone who can help police track down the thieves who broke into his office and stole his safe containing more than R100 000 in cash.

Sam Shokane, a well-known philanthropist who owns Sam Sokol Building Construction in Schoemansdal near the Swaziland border in Mpumalanga, was burgled on May 13.

"I came to work and found that the office's front door was broken down," he said. "When I entered my office the door was also broken and the culprits had taken the safe and all the money inside."

He said the money included R47 000 he was meant to his employees that week. He has created jobs for 115 people.

"I'm very disappointed about the way my community is treating me. I always give back to the community. I'm the type of businessperson who doesn't care how much I spend to help poor people in the area, but now some cold-hearted people have broken into my office and stolen my money," he said.

Last month he donated 120 uniforms to Masibekela primary school in Masibekela and Injabulo primary in Mananga village.

In March, he built an eight-roomed house for a family of eight who previously lived in a one-roomed shack. He also provided them with furniture.

He is also known to buy groceries for poor families in the area.

He is a patron of Zithulele primary school and is involved in a number of community upliftment projects.

He said he doesn't have any suspects in the burglary because he doesn't have enemies.

"I'm pleading with the community to please give me and the police the information so we can bring these culprits to book," he said.

Schoemansdal police spokesperson Constable Nompilo Qwabe said police had opened a burglary docket.

- African Eye