BLOEMFONTEIN. The Bloemfontein Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team is investigating whether a suspect arrested for a break-in at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) building is involved in other cases. The suspected burglar, Dino Sherwin Kekana (28), appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 15 September, facing a charge of burglary.
His arrest came approximately two years after the break-in at the NPA’s offices on the night of 23 December 2023. The elite crime-fighting wing’s investigation led to the arrest of the suspected burglar on Friday, 12 September.
Lt Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said Kekana’s arrest was the culmination of an in-depth investigation by the Crimes Against the State (CAT) section of the Hawks. “The suspect was traced to a prison in Wepener. DNA samples, including blood stains collected at the scene and taken to the forensic laboratory, connect the suspect to the burglary,” said Mohobeleli. The intruder reportedly gained access to the offices of personal assistants.
Mohobeleli added that the investigations also uncovered that Kekana could be linked to a trail of burglaries in the city. “It was discovered that the suspect is wanted for at least six cases of burglary, mostly committed in the Bloemfontein central business district (CBD),” said Mohobeleli. He said the suspect was already serving time in prison in connection with another burglary incident in the city. According to him, the suspect was sentenced in June this year to three years’ direct imprisonment on an unrelated burglary charge.
Mohobeleli said a preliminary investigation discovered that the then-unidentified intruder broke into the offices and stole laptops and audio recorders but reportedly did not access sensitive information. “He had forced entry into the NPA building through a window. Several valuable items such as laptops were missing,” said Mohobeleli.
The break-in had raised eyebrows as it was reported there were 24-hour security personnel on-site. At the time of the burglary, the Free State NPA was involved in several high-profile cases, including the Thabo Bester escape plot at the G4S prison and the multi-million-rand “asbestos scam” of the Free State government.
