What was meant to be a relaxing public holiday turned into a harrowing experience for an East Driefontein family.

At around 19:30 on the evening of May 1, the 42-year-old mother, her husband, and their three children were watching television in their home.

Without warning, they heard a loud noise coming from the kitchen door, and six men stormed inside. The intruders, who were speaking Sesotho, ordered the husband and two of the children to lie down on the floor.

They allowed the mother to remain standing while holding her baby. While three of the men stood guard over the family, the remaining accomplices searched the house, moving from room to room and turning everything upside down.

The suspects stole food, clothing, cellphones, and money. They also demanded firearms, but the family did not have any guns in the house.

Fortunately, the mother managed to hide her cellphone and used it to call for help as soon as the criminals fled the scene.

Following an investigation, the police determined that the attackers gained entry to the property by jumping over the back wall.

The robbers also broke into a tenant’s outside room, though he was fortunately not there at the time of the incident.