Sunday, 23 April 2017 – Parliament has received a report of theft which allegedly took place on Friday evening at the offices of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in the Marks Building of Parliament. A preliminary investigation by Parliament's Security Services on Saturday has uncovered the following:
1. There was no sign of forced entry at the office in question. There are two access doors to the office: the one that is ordinarily used for entry was locked while the alternative door, which is kept locked at all times, was unlocked.
2. Our night security staff indicate that at approximately 23:00, there were several SABC staff members working at the said office.
3. The laptops' security locking cables remained untampered with, suggesting that someone with a key detached the laptops.
Parliament Security Services will study all the video footage around the building to establish if there were any unauthorised or suspicious persons around the scene of the alleged theft.
Reference has been made in media reports regarding this alleged incident to a similar incident at the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) offices in 2015. The 2015 incident did not point to any fault, negligence or liability on the part of Parliament.
At that time, Parliament conducted an investigation on the basis of a report received from the EFF. The investigation, including corroborating evidence by video footage, showed no forced entry and that all people who entered the office at the time of the alleged crime were authorised by the EFF to do so. The matter was therefore left to the EFF to resolve.
While, as Parliament, we continuously employ measures to tighten security, we also rely on entities under whose care office facilities are entrusted to exercise necessary security, care and vigilance.
Parliament will advise the SABC to thoroughly conduct its internal investigation and provide the institution with a full report, which will assist us to get to the bottom of this alleged crime.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo 082 370 6930
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