Burglars have raided the home of one of the key figures charged with preventing crime at the World Cup, South Africa’s deputy police minister Fikile Mbalula, media said Tuesday.
Mbalula lost several expensive appliances, including an LCD television, when his official residence in Pretoria was burgled at the weekend in what police believe was an inside job, reported the Star.
Mbalula’s spokesperson confirmed the incident to the newspaper but did not give further details.
“We have left the matter in the hands of the [local] police,” Paena Galane said.
Mbalula has made headlines in South Africa for his tough talk on fighting criminals in a country that has one of the world’s highest crime rates.
Last year he famously urged police to take tougher action against criminals, saying officers should “shoot the bastards”.
Mbalula and Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa have worked to improve South Africa’s image ahead of the World Cup, deploying more police in an effort to contain crime in a country that sees almost 50 murders a day.