Selfish thieves steal from youth development centre
ALEXANDRA - Computers worthy R60 000 stolen from youth development centre.
The Alexandra Development Centre (ADC) suffered a major blow after a recent theft of assets worth R60 000.
The thieves gained entry into the centre’s computer lab at night on 28 Feb by breaking a wall and window and stole 19 computers, eight key boards and other accessories.
The ADC is a key community development organisation that promotes youth empowerment through training programmes in computer skills, refrigeration technology, customer service and cashiering, entrepreneurship, advice and referrals. Its programmes target thousands of unskilled Alexandra youths who have limited chances of finding meaningful employment. Hundreds of local youths have benefited from these programmes, with some already in gainful employment in industry, local supermarkets and development organisations.
Counting the the loss, the centre’s distraught chairperson Mabel Dikobe said the theft was a major blow and was the third incident in which they have lost valuable assets through heartless individuals.
“Alexandra is a poorly resourced area and thefts like these are a drawback – especially for the youths who have no hope of getting jobs without skills,”she lamented.
“What is most disturbing is that the alarm system was on that night but did not go off during the theft. In the previous incidents the thieves entered the same way. This leads us to suspect that they had full knowledge of our set up.
“While the police are investigating, we appeal to the local community to help secure the [centre’s] and other development organisations’ assets as they are of benefit to them and their children.”
The centre is currently sponsored by the Department of Social Development for three youth training programmes. They have already trained 180 youths in computer skills from a target of 200, a full compliment of 40 youths in refrigeration technology and another full compliment of 20 youths in customer service and cashiering.
According to the centre’s manager Lefa Molefe, they have had to postpone the training of the remaining 20 youths in computer skills until they replace the computers.
Meanwhile they have placed most of the 20 customer service and cashiering trainees at Macro – one; PicknPay – seven, Boxer – five; Spec – one; and Spar – four.
While the police are still investigating the incident, Molefe said the local policing forum has also promised to increase patrols in Alexandra.
