Radio Grahamstown listeners were left confused by hours of resounding silence after thieves stole vital broadcasting equipment.
Station manager, Pamela Zondani, says the incident could easily have been avoided.
Radio Grahamstown listeners were left confused by hours of resounding silence after thieves stole vital broadcasting equipment.
Station manager, Pamela Zondani, says the incident could easily have been avoided.
Safety procedures were not followed, Zondani said. The alarm was not armed by the last person to leave the building on Saturday 5 April.
Phumlani "DJ Gazlam" Mkhaliphi, presenter of the 6pm to 9pm slot left a few minutes after he had finished.
He left the doors unlocked, hoping that the next presenter, Sakhele "Sakhi" Boma, would arrive for his show.
Speaking to Grocott's Mail while the police were still scouring the scene for clues on Sunday morning, he said "After nine I waited for Sakhi, but he did not pitch. So I left and closed both the doors and the burglar gate."
"I left the play list on, hoping he was going to arrive for his show because he arrives late sometimes."
Boma, who starts his show "Ezezolo" at 9pm, said he couldn't make it on time because he had a problem with his car while transporting a local rugby team back from a match in Port Alfred.
"I tried to call the DJ who was in studio before my show but he did not answer his phone," he said.
Both presenters only heard the following morning that the station had been broken into.
Zondani said the station tries to make sure the last person to leave and the first person to arrive in the morning have their own keys.
The thieves made off with two flat screen monitors, a radio that was in the reception area, a kettle and electrical cables.
The station was barely surviving on the broadcasting equipment they had before the break-in.
Radio Grahamstown's Xolani Kondile said he was heartbroken. "What these thieves don't understand is that they are not only stealing from us, but from the community," he said.
The station's followers expressed sympathy and shock at the incident.
Commenting on the station's Facebook page, Sisanda Sanda said "I jst dnt understand why people r so cruel, Radio G is our Community Radio Station therefore we shuld luv&embrace it bt now abany abafun ukuybona iphumelela,bt im sure iRadio izoqhubeka God wil continue blessing this Station no matter what."
Others expressed confusion. Thando T'do Msutu asked "Kuqhekezwa njn nha kwi Radio? Ngoba 24hours kukho abantu? Or iyavala ebusuku le yenu?" ("How do people break into a radio station? Because there are people there 24 hours? Or does yours close at night?").
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said the police are investigating a case of house breaking. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information can contact 046 603 9106.
