The cello which was said to worth about R60,000 was stolen from an orchestra that performed at the university concert not too long ago.
According News24, the student who was a member of the Department of Music already has some people outside South Africa who had shown interest in buying the stolen cello which he displayed for sale on Facebook.
The spokesman for Parkweg Police Station, Boomfontein, Brigadier Motansi Makhele, while commenting on the matter said,"the cello disappear at an event in September when the orchestra decided to take a break leaving behind their musical instruments."
Brigadier Makhele said further that, "upon returned after dinner, a Professor realised that one of the instruments was missing. Enquiries were made to students regarding the missing cello but nobody was able to account." He said a case of theft was opened and registered at Parkweg Police Station for further investigation.
Three months after the incident, the Parkweg Tracing Task Force received information about a person who was trying to sell a cello that match the description of the missing one.
The police spokesman stated that the follow up led to a house in Parkweg where the 25 years old student was living, while the police officers waited until he returned home.
"He was surprised by officers who requested to see the instrument. After going through the instrument which had been painted in a different colour, police established through visible markings that the cello was the one stolen from the university. The suspect failed to [tell] police why the cello was in his possession and was arrested," Makhele said.
It was reported that the student will be charged to court for theft and the procession of suspected stolen property.