South African President's House Robbed

by Jordan Yerman | May 7, 2008 at 10:12 am

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Crime indeeds remains an issue in South Africa: thieves broke in through President Thabo Mbeki's roof, stealing the embedded aluminum meant to protect the residence from lightning strikes.

Beeld reported on Wednesday that the 10mm aluminium wire which had been installed in the roof over the past three weeks, formed part of a network of the house's electronic fittings, including closed-circuit television cameras and computer systems, that was designed to protect the house against lightning.

Kevin Bredenkamp of Ubani, the contractors who were supposed to install the aluminium cables, left the premises on Tuesday because he deemed it unsafe.

"We withdrew until we knew it was safe and that things wouldn't be stolen again," Bredenkamp said.

He said that the robbery must have taken place between Friday night and Monday night but was only discovered on Tuesday morning.