A Tafelsig feeding scheme was forced to close its doors for four weeks after its storeroom was raided of stock valued at R40 000.
The Tafelsig Community Action Network (CAN) storeroom, in Dassenberg Street, which supplies 13 kitchens in the area, was broken into on Friday September 10, between midnight and 2am, when its cameras were disabled. Each kitchen feeds up to 300 people daily.
Stock controller Marvin van der Heever only discovered the theft on Monday September 13 when he was due to deliver stock to the kitchens. He noticed that dry foods like beans, rice, baby formula, nappies for adults and babies had been stolen and that the burglar bars had been removed.
He believes the break-in was planned and that someone who had been in and out of the storeroom was familiar with the set-up and knew about the camera.
“They did this without a care. They took nappies from the babies’ bottoms and milk from their mouths,” he said.
Co-ordinator Joanie Fredericks said the perpetrators only thought of themselves and were not desperate or in dire need of assistance.
“This was planned and they took much more than was necessary to take care of themselves or their immediate family,” she said.
Ms Fredericks said they would have take a break for four weeks to replenish their stock, in the meantime the kitchens will do what they can with what they have.
“We will only feed the vulnerable – the aged, the children and the disabled. No able-bodied persons until we get information as to who did this,” she said.
She said Tafelsig knew the thieves because someone must have seen something or was approached to buy stolen goods.
“It stops right here. We are taking a stand and saying – report the wrong. Don’t buy stolen goods,” she said.
Ms Fredericks believes the stolen goods were sold and the money used to buy drugs.
Mitchell’s Plain police station spokesman Captain Ian Williams said a case of housebreaking and theft was being investigated.
“No arrests have been made,“ said Captain Willams.
To donate and for more information call Ms Fredericks on 076 621 0245