A mother of two from Bonaero Park says the birthday party bullet war the weekend still replays in her head like a slow motion movie.
The 46-year-old, who prefers to remain anonymous, detailed the events of the horrific evening where two armed robbers were shot and killed in front of parents and children attending a sweet 16 party in Pendoring Street, Glen Marais. She attended the party with her 15-year-old daughter.
“There were around 30 people. The party started at 2pm and was meant to end at 9pm. About 30 minutes before it ended a strange, slender, well-dressed guy walked in,” she explained.
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At the time she was sitting in a corner with her daughter who was playing games on her phone, complaining she was tired and wanted to go home.
“This guy walked past us and went to the braai area where some of the adults were standing. There was a big light and I saw him clearly waving a silver gun in the air, then he motioned for everyone to move to the stoep,” she explained.
“My daughter and I thought it was a toy gun at first. I looked left and saw another three well-dressed men walk in. One was armed. My daughter kept asking me, ‘Mama, what’s going on?’
“I told her to hide the phone because where we were sitting it was dark and the light of the phone was bright. They walked in arrogantly as though they were invited. I thought they were colleagues or friends of the owner of the house, but then I asked myself why they would come so late.”
She said some of the kids were in the pool at the time and were also summoned to the stoep.
“When I noticed it was really an armed robbery, I told my child we should go to the stoep and join the others. Most of the kids were hiding under a table on the stoep,” she added.
One of the robbers started shooting randomly around the yard while the children started screaming.
“I told them to calm down and relax. We were all seated. A male friend of mine wanted to stand up and attack the robber who was firing shots. I don’t know where the other three were.
“This was when the owner of the house came from nowhere and started shooting at the robber. It was like a movie, the shots sounded like firecrackers.”
The witness said everything happened so fast.
“Once the shooting died down, I got up and went to the owner, who was standing over one of the robbers. He was still alive. I asked him where the others were. He said one was on the other side of the house and the other two had escaped.
“I asked him if it was safe for the children to go into the house and he said yes.”
The children, who were being shielded from the bloody scene, were very traumatised and hysterical as they were led into the house. Paramedics arrived shortly thereafter and tried resuscitating one of the robbers, but to no avail. The other one was declared dead on the scene.
“Professional therapists and counsellors soon arrived and started counselling the kids and some parents. They really helped calming everyone.”
The mother of two said they were all just grateful to be alive.
“These four picked the wrong house. The policeman is a hero, he reacted quickly and saved all of us.”
She warned residents to be careful when throwing or attending parties, especially when departing afterwards.
“Be alert when you are saying goodbye to your friends, look around, who’s in the streets, who’s following you or coming up behind you.”
Fourteen cartridges were found on the scene.
