Unknown thieves ransacked the Gift of the Givers offices in Cape Town over the weekend.
- Thieves broke into the offices of Gift of the Givers over the weekend.
- They took away a laptop, office chairs, a desk, televisions and aid packages for the victims of the Western Cape fire.
- “These people not only stole from the Gift of the Givers, but they also stole from the community,” said Ali Sablay of the organization.
Criminals ransacked the Gift of the Givers offices in Cape Town over the weekend, making off with a laptop, televisions, office chairs and aid packages for victims of the Western Cape fire.
The humanitarian organization’s project manager, Ali Sablay, told News24 that a staff member noticed the offices had been broken into when they reported to work on Monday morning.
He said the stolen laptop had the names of people and charities that needed help.
Sablay said the theft of this data would delay help as organizations would have to re-register.
These people not only stole from the Gift of the Givers, they also stole from the community because all that information has to be recaptured. That is unfortunate for the disadvantaged people of the Western Cape. People registered for food packages and wheelchairs. Soup kitchens and schools cannot register [for aid]. Our team had prepared packages for the victims of the Western Cape fire, which unfortunately were also stolen.
He said Gift of the Givers was one of the few organizations that continued to operate in the area despite its high crime rate.
“Many NGOs don’t want to work on the Cape Flats [and surrounding areas] because they say that the communities do not assist them. Gift of the Givers is one of the few that still has soup kitchens in these communities where it tries to improve the lives of children,” she said.
Sablay said the robbery did not affect his warehouse and the organization would continue operations.
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He said 11 people caught with stolen goods had been questioned.
Western Cape Police spokesman Captain Frederick Van Wyk said the theft was reported on Monday morning and they were investigating.
He said no arrests have been made yet.
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