The continuous break-ins at the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum have been described as a “threat” to the safety of the staff.
This follows another break-in at this community facility in the early hours of Thursday morning 9 February.
According to reports, thugs found their way into the museum by cutting down and stealing electric wires, forcing the museum to halt operations for the day.
Masa Soko, the museum manager, said their concern is that while they have opened many cases with the police, no arrest have ever been made.
To date, the museum had several items stolen from signage boards, electricity meter boxes, lights and air conditioner to name just a few.
“Iyatyhafisa kakhulu yonke lento (This whole issue is very discouraging). It now feels as if we are just reporting for the sake of following the correct procedures because we don’t see any results,” she said.
Soko said whenever they enquire from the police about progress on their cases they do not get “concrete” answers.
“Any break-in or vandalism that occurs at the museum disturbs the service we render to this community. As I speak to you, our air con is not working and soon our fridge may also be damaged by these acts of crime,” she said.
Soko blamed criminals for “deleting” the history of the area.
“This whole matter is also a threat to our safety. We can’t grasp as to what exactly they are after, because all these actions are affecting us negatively,” she said, adding the museum has the whole history of Lwandle which was now under “threat”.
Lwandle police spokesperson Sgt Mthokozisi Gama confirmed a case of malicious damage to property and cable theft has been opened. He said there have been no arrests.
“Police request the community and scrapyards or second-hand goods businesses not to buy stolen cables as this promote more theft of cables,” he said.
Gama said anyone found with stolen property can be prosecuted by courts once a case has been opened.
Police request anyone with information to phone Const Zimasa Zungu on 021 845 2060.
