The theft at the India-sponsored 'Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Computer Education and Information Technology' centre in Phoenix Habitat, South Africa, the future of students getting low fees or free computer training here hangs in the balance.
The centre was officially inaugurated by Minister of State for External Affairs Vijay Kumar Singh in October 2017 but classes started here only five months ago. Basic computer training is imparted here to members of the poor community around the township. The Phoenix settlement was established by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1904.
Six armed men took a security personnel hostage and escaped with 29 computers in a van. There were also 20 computers provided by the Indian government. Kidder Ramgobin, the trustee of the Phoenix Settlement Trust and great-great-grandson of Mahatma, said: "Luckily no one was hurt.
This is the first incident of theft in the institute. "Computer training is imparted to the Bhamabhai community at the centre.
Due to low fees and its simple rules, students come from far and wide. This centre is also catering to the needs of people who have not even touched a computer until date.
"He said that this incident of theft has caused the loss of many students who have received training here. More than 4,000 students have attained the certificate after completing the training from here and many of them also got jobs after that. The institute is now raising money to buy new computers so that classes can be started again as soon as possible.
