Nearly 1 000 ID books stolen
2008-01-08 21:24
Bushbuckridge - Nearly 1 000 identity books have been reported stolen from the Department of Home Affairs' Mhala office in Bushbuckridge.
The 987 ID books were stolen on December 6 when thieves broke into the building through a window.
"The thieves broke the padlock on a cabinet in which 987 new ID books were stored," said Mhala head of detectives, Superintendent Alfred Dlamini.
He said police had opened a case of burglary and were warning members of the public not to be tempted into buying the stolen IDs on the black market.
"We are warning the community not to buy those IDs, but to report the suspects to the police," he said.
Goodwill Mabasa is one person whose ID book was stolen.
"What am I going to do now? I just found a new job and the company wants a copy of my ID book," he said.
A 27-year-old security guard told police that she didn't hear or see anything that night as it had been raining heavily.
Acting manager at the Mhala Home Affairs office, Buttlers Mhlaba, said he could not comment as he was on leave.