Theft at Natie Kirsh's charity

The property is worth E204 000 in total and was to be distributed to various schools through the SWAKI Group of Companies.

Kirsh launched a project in the country known as the Computer Education Trust (CET) in 1999 which sought to ensure that Swazi schools are computerised. This project was also endorsed by His Majesty King Mswati III. At least 149 high schools were to benefit from this project.

Nhlanhla Kunene (32) and Lindiwe Maziya (40) both from Selection Park in Mbabane have been charged with theft. They are currently out of custody after posting E30 000 bail each.

Kunene is employed as a technician while Maziya is the office administrator under the CET programme.

They are alleged to have stolen the computers that were kept at SWAKI’s warehouse situated within the company’s premises.

Most of the computers are imported from abroad.

Kunene and Maziya were attached to SWAKI Charities, a wing in the company responsible of running the CET programme. This wing is responsible for all donations that the company intends distributing to the needy would be taken to rural areas and giving out to the needy people.

The suspects have been with the company for more than two years now and they were part of the team that worked on distributing the computers in the various schools.

The computers they are alleged to have stolen were to be distributed to 34 high schools. The company reportedly received a request from a school that needed computers for their laboratory and when the officials went to check, it was then discovered that 263 computers were missing. Following the discovery, the issue was then reported to the police.

As the investigations continued, it transpired that Kunene and Maziya were the prime suspects. They were then taken in for questioning at the Manzini Police Station and thereafter were arrested and charged with theft.

A source close to the matter said what made the police suspect that it was an inside job was because there were no signs of forced entry into the company’s warehouse. "The police were quick to act on their suspicions and they eventually arrested the two employees," he said.

"Most employees were shocked when they got to know that so many computers had been stolen. It was not easy to understand how so many computers were stolen without anyone noticing.

"That was one of the reasons it was suspected that there might have been people from inside who were involved. The suspects were employed under the SWAKI Charities. We were surprised when we got to know that our colleagues were allegedly involved."

Alex Mngomezulu, SWAKI Group of Companies General Manager, confirmed the alleged theft saying the matter was being handled by the police. "We have already involved the police and the suspects were taken to the police station where they were arrested and charged."

He said they were waiting for a report from the police and they would then decide what to do next. The suspects are currently out of custody. They appeared at the Manzini Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and were told to return next Thursday for another remand hearing.

The Swaki Group of Companies will suspend the two employees. The police have traced 36 of the computers that had already been sold to different people.

George Durrat Lys, one of the company managers said as the matter was now before court, the suspects would be suspended. "This does not mean that they are guilty but everything will be determined by the court," he said.

"Police have mentioned that they have strong evidence linking them to this matter and that is why they were arrested and charged. We will wait to see what happens during the trial."

Lys said what they only knew was that as the police were investigating there was no form of evidence proving that there might have been a break-in. "Since the suspects were employees and had access to the company’s premises, it is suspected that they might have used that advantage when allegedly committing the crime," he said.

"The police have told us that they have already been able to find 36 of the computers and we hope that more of them will be found as they were specifically meant for a special programme and over 3 000 people were expected to benefit."

Wilson Ntshangase, Minister of Education and Training is disappointed that some schools will no longer get computers because some people decided to steal from their employer. The minister said a lot of pupils were benefitting from the Computer Education Trust and it was disappointing to know that over 30 schools will no longer get the computers because they were stolen. "This is really disappointing," said the minister.

"Some of the schools could not afford to have their own computer laboratories but through the initiative by SWAKI Group of Companies, they were able to start computer lessons."

The minister said since the matter had been reported to the police, they were hoping that the computers that were stolen would be found and would be given to the schools that were supposed to benefit.

Superintendent Wendy Hleta, Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the theft of computers saying already two suspects have been arrested and charged with theft. She said police had not yet closed investigations over the matter.

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