Durban - About R500 000 in cash was stolen when the uMhlanga home of Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi was broken into and ransacked in the early hours on Wednesday.
The National Freedom Party leader, who is also the deputy minister of science and technology, said she was still counting the cost of the damages and determining exactly what had been taken.
On Tuesday, KaMagwaza-Msibi rushed home from Cape Town. Her daughter, Gugu Gumede, 22, had been sleeping when the incident occurred.
She was not injured.
Police spokesman Thulani Zwane confirmed the incident, saying two suspects had entered through an open window.
“They ransacked the house, demanding the safe and the code (to the safe),” he said.
They took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled.
KaMagwaza-Msibi said the money stolen was about R500 000.
“We had been loaned the money for an auction, which was held yesterday (Tuesday). I borrowed the money so we could pay for the building we are renting in Glenwood, where NFP offices are,” she said, adding that their bid for the building had been accepted.
“There was other money with other members of the party.
“We will use that money and, as for what was stolen, we will see what we do,” she said.
They had kept the money in the house because they had to pay it within 14 days of winning the auction.
The men broke in at about 3.45am. Apart from the money they also ransacked her bedroom and took valuables.
“While I am grateful that my daughter was not hurt, as a mother, I cannot imagine the trauma she went through…,” she said.
Zwane said police were investigating a case of house robbery.
No arrests had been made.
The Mercury