Six computers were stolen during a midnight burglary at the provincial police headquarters in Mbombela on Sunday, January 26.

The police had not commented on this incident until Lowvelder caught wind of it and started asking questions on Wednesday, January 29.

A provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, confirmed the burglary took place.

When asked why this matter had not been reported to the media, Mdhluli gave a few reasons.

He said the senior police officers had gone to the National Police Day in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, January 27. Shortly thereafter, more than 50 buses were set on fire in the Nkangala District.

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“Our hands were full,” he said.

Mdhluli said cases of housebreaking and theft were registered at the Nelspruit Police Station for investigations.

Lowvelder can reveal that the burglary happened mere days after two senior officers had been charged with serious misconduct, said to be related to the ‘illegal installation’ of CCTV cameras in the building during the suspended provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela’s tenure.

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Manamela is facing several charges that were brought in by the office of the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola.

It is unclear where Manamela’s case stands as the SAPS maintains its standpoint that the matter is between employer and employee and cannot be discussed in the media.