Multidisciplinary team set up to probe OCJ robbery
Police in Gauteng have set up a multidisciplinary task team to investigate a robbery at the Office of the Chief Justice in Midrand yesterday.
15 computers were stolen from the human resources department -containing important information of various judges and judiciary officials.
"Our team comprises of detectives, forensic analysis experts as well as crime intelligence experts," says the police's Colonel Athlenda Matha, adding "they are tasked to study the crime scene, gather evidence, analyse it and then give necessary recommendations."
The team, lead by the Gauteng Police Commissioner, is working around the clock to bring the perpetrators to book.
So far no one has been arrested, but Mathe explains the investigation is currently at a very sensitive stage.
While the OCJ says the theft is a massive setback for the administration of justice in its entirety, police consider it an attack on the judiciary.
The Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Pahlane also instructed that security be improved at the OCJ.
"The Acting National Commissioner will sanction a security assessment for the purposes of advising on the enhancement of security at the offices," says Mathe.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has also called on police to do everything in their power to bring the suspects to book.
The incident occurred less than 24-hours after the Constitutional Court ordered a 12-month extension of the current social grant payment contract between the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and Cash Paymaster Services (CPS).