A Soweto music group performing at the National Arts Festival had their musical instruments stolen from their tour bus in Joza in the first weekend of Fest.
A Soweto music group performing at the National Arts Festival had their musical instruments stolen from their tour bus in Joza in the first weekend of Fest.
While wowing audiences at City Hall with their African beats, members of Thabisong Song & Dance Troupe left some of their equipment behind in their luxury bus. The bus was parked next to one of the houses the group was renting in Joza for the duration of their stay in Grahamstown.
Thieves apparently broke into the bus and stole two lead guitars and high heads. This left the group with no lead guitar for their show, said spokesperson Mbalizethu Shezi. The matter was reported to the local police and a case was opened. According to members of the group, a suspect was arrested on 6 July, but was later released. The band members said the police had not given them any reasons as to why thay had released the suspect.
“We have been calling the police station to check the progress [of the case]but we are getting no joy," said Musa Tshabalala, one of the band members.
To make matters worse, the band says that two of the bus tyres were slashed, a day after the suspect was released. This resulted in the group having to spend R4 500 on buying new tyres. “We have since opened a second case in the main police station in the City Centre and we have been promised by the police that the matter will be investigated as to why the satellite police station released the suspect,” said Shezi. She added that the police promised to investigate the second incident.
Meanwhile the group members say the incident has put a negative spin on their experience at the Festival. “We are very disappointed with what has happened and we have been coming to the Festival for more than 10 years and have been staying in Joza for five years during our participation in the Festival,” said Themba Mokgoro, the group’s choreographer. Shezi said that the owner of the bus, who stays in Orlando West in Soweto, was devastated by the “evil and barbaric actions” and called for the police to bring the culprits to book.
The band members complained that there was lack of visible policing in the areas where Festival guests are hosted in the Grahamstown townships.
An owner of a township B&B apparently also complained about crime in Joza and appealed to the police to organise day and night patrols.
Police spokesperson Captain Ndivhelafhi Mamuthubi said that the police were still investigating the cases but had not arrested any suspects. Mamuthubi explained that the police may release a person within 48 hours if there is no evidence linking that person to a crime after they have been questioned.
