Lira put behind her a burglary where her most prized possessions were stolen just hours before she was to support R Kelly's.
|||Durban - Songbird Lira put behind her a burglary where her most prized possessions – her awards statuettes – were stolen just hours before she was to join other local support acts at R Kelly’s concert at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday night.
Lira and her husband, sound engineer and music producer Robin Kohl, said they were still reeling from a burglary on Friday night at their Randburg home.
Gauteng police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila said two suspects were arrested in possession of the songbird’s iPad, laptop and money, including foreign currency.
Malila said 10 SA Music Awards statuettes, R100 000 in cash, three laptops, a DStv decoder, and musical instruments worth R500 000 were stolen.
Police recovered seven of the awards, a chequebook, and house and vehicle keys.
“When you’re a performer,” said Kohl, “the show must go on… for now we are focused on giving the people of Durban their money’s worth in a great show.”
The singer was in top form when she arrived at the airport hours ahead of her performance, and there was no hint of the earlier trauma.
The couple had spent an enjoyable evening with friends on Friday, but then almost stumbled into the burglary at their Randburg home.
Kohl said the incident had left them “in a bit of a turmoil; shocked, naturally, and very sorry to have lost the awards because of their huge emotional value to us”.
He said they were “exceptionally grateful that our housekeeper, two Great Danes and cat were unharmed”.
“When we pulled into the driveway we knew immediately that something was badly wrong, and then spotted silhouettes against the light behind the curtains,” Kohl said.
“My first priority was getting Lira to safety, so I drove some distance away to call our security company.
“Both they and the police were at the scene within five minutes, but by then the robbers had made their getaway.”
Weekend Argus