Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was at home when her house was broken into recently, the Cape Times website reported on Thursday.
It said 18 highly trained members of the VIP protection unit were assigned to provide 24-hour protection for Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Yet burglars entered Mlambo-Ngcuka’s home in Morningside, Sandton, on the night of August 13 and stole her handbag, laptop computer and cellphone.
The head of the VIP unit, Assistant Commissioner Fundile Tokwe, confirmed an investigation into the security breach is under way.
It will try to determine how it had been possible for the thieves to sneak past the guards.
A police source who asked not to be named said heads could roll.
Tokwe dismissed fears that the deputy president’s safety was under threat and said some of the stolen items have been recovered.
Three men were arrested over the incident. Two have appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court and were not granted bail.
The Star newspaper named the arrested men as Francisco Matsimbe, William Lehase and Simphiwe Shabangu, but said charges were dropped against Shabangu. — Sapa