Schuster 'now really gatvol'
2006-08-23 08:51
Johannesburg - Leon Schuster, South Africa's king of comedy, was devastated to find that two laptop computers were stolen from his house in Johannesburg.
He said it felt like losing his brain.
The burglary happened at his house in Two Rivers
Country Estate in Honeydew, Johannesburg late on Sunday afternoon.
"I know some people think I had already lost my mind, but these computers were half my brain. All my stories, ideas, sketches and personal songs since Sweet and Short in 1991, were stored on them.
"Every time I got a new computer, I transferred all the information to it, and never made a back-up," said Schuster about his loss.
In addition, an antique movie camera and the famous kudu horn which Schuster used in Mr Bones in 2001, were also stolen.
R10 000 reward
Schuster arrived home about 18:45. Only after he had watched television for a while, did he realise that his computers were missing. "What would anybody want to do with my stuff?" he asked.
About 24 songs he planned to "record within the next two weeks" were on one of the computers. "I will have to remember everything that is gone piece by piece, because I will have to start from scratch - at least I'm not altogether brain-dead," he said.
"The CD I want to record is a satirical look at things such as crime."
"Before, I was Gautvol, now I'm just 'gatvol'. I once again realise how vulnerable we are."
Schuster has offered a reward of R10 000 to anybody who returned the computers and other belongings to him.
Police spokesperson captain Paula Nothnagel confirmed the burglary. "Nobody has been arrested yet. The Honeydew detective branch is investigating a burglary case. The police have called on people to contact the detectives
with information at 011 801 8442.