Burgled Phumzile safe - cops
2005-08-31 23:18
Marlise Scheepers and Liezel de Lange
Johannesburg - Although the circumstances surrounding the burglary at the Johannesburg house of deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka are being kept a secret, police insist her safety is not in jeopardy.
Police would not say whether Mlambo-Ngcuka was at home during the burglary about two weeks ago when her handbag, cellphone and laptop computer were stolen.
Francisco Matsimbe, 22, and William Lehase, 31, are due to appear in Wynberg magistrate's court in Alexandra on a charge of burglary on Monday.
Three suspects were arrested in connection with the burglary about a week ago, but one of them has been released.
Mlambo-Ngcuka lives in the upmarket Morningside suburb in northern Johannesburg, where she enjoys police protection.
Although most of the homes here are within security complexes or boom areas, they often fall prey to burglars, said a neighbour yesterday.
Investigating all possibilities
National police spokesperson Sally de Beer could not confirm
on Wednesday whether the burglars had insider help.
She also didn't want to say whether Mlambo-Ngcuka's husband, Bulelani Ngcuka, the former head of the national prosecution authority, was at home at the time.
When asked whether the burlary could be connected to the controversy about the prosecution of Mlambo-Ngcuka's predecessor, Jacob Zuma, De Beer said "all possibilities are being investigated".
Mlambo-Ngcuka has had to face the wrath of Zuma's supporters several times since her appointment in June.