MP burgled: State's 'fault'

2003-03-16 18:13

Cape Town - Democratic Alliance MP Mark Lowe said he held the state responsible for his losses after a robbery at his home at the Acacia Park parliamentary village in Cape Town.

Lowe said the robbery at his home was "either an inside job, or the security at the village is a complete farce."

This follows a burglary and robbery at Lowe's home at the village on Saturday night.

Cape Town police spokesperson Captain Etienne Terblanche confirmed that a case of housebreaking was being investigated.

In a statement Lowe said: "I hold the state responsible for my losses. The government is responsible for the management and security of this complex.

"Either the security requires a serious shake-up, so that things gets done properly, or residents must be informed that they should take responsibility for their own security, and the police officers at the village should be redeployed to police stations to fight crime. The present farce cannot be continued a moment longer."

Lowe said despite the apparently high security, his house in the complex was completely cleaned out, to the extent that he had to go and buy clothes to have something to wear to work on Monday.

"Acacia Park should be one of the most secure places in South Africa. It has high perimeter fencing and spotlights, and it is guarded 24 hours a day by the police. The houses all have alarm systems installed, but apparently these have not been working the last two days."

"From conversations with the SAPS personnel and Acacia Park management, crime is rife in the village and even the SAPS consider security a joke.

"According to one of the SAPS inspectors, some residents have been identified by fingerprint analysis after previous break-ins in the complex, but nothing further has been done."

The MP said he would seek an urgent meeting with Public Works Minister Stella Sigcau on Monday about security at Acacia Park.

Sigcau's private secretary Juliette Skosana said she had not yet received a request from Lowe for a meeting with the minister.

The national Police Commissioner's office refused to comment.

- SAPA