An Emalahleni Local Municipality bakkie was one of the stolen items during an alleged armed robbery at the municipal offices in Cacadu (formerly Lady Frere).
Municipal spokesperson Luthando Nqumkana said the incident happened in the early hours on Tuesday, March 22.
“At about 01:00 on Tuesday heavily armed robbers held security personnel at Emalahleni municipal offices at gun point and stormed into the areas where municipal vehicles and equipment are kept,” said Nqumkana.
“Security personnel were allegedly ordered at gun point, to search for the keys of the vehicles and in the process one of the security personnel was assaulted and injured.”
He said the safe with the car keys was forcefully opened and the keys were tested on several vehicles until access was gained to a bakkie.
“The vehicle was then loaded with equipment, including grass cutting machines and chain saws, grinders, a generator and a big toolbox full of an assortment of tools,” he said.
He said police were alerted during the robbery and responded swiftly.
Asked if any equipment was recovered, Nqumkana said, “As all that was stolen was loaded on our bakkie which has not been found yet, there is nothing that has been recovered.”
While the incident will hamper service delivery efforts, Nqumkana assured communities that the municipality will never be hindered in its service delivery mandate.
Police spokesperson, captain Namhla Mdleleni, confirmed a case of business robbery was being investigated after a municipal vehicle was stolen.
