“I lost my voice for almost two weeks because of the trauma of being held at gunpoint in front of my home.”
These are the words of Anusha Govender who was recently robbed in front of her Kempton Park home.
“I had just arrived in front of my gate, in the driveway, and was getting ready to open the gate when all of a sudden a car started racing towards my car,” said Govender.
“I was shocked at where this car came from because I am very cautious about who is behind me but this car wasn’t driving behind me. In no time, they were already parked behind me and the men jumped out and approached us.”
Govender told EXPRESS she was with her 17-year-old daughter and mother in the car.
“When the men surrounded the car, my daughter, who was seated in the front passenger seat, started screaming as she saw all the car doors from the other car open and people rushing towards us with firearms,” said Govender.
“When I saw a guy standing at my door pointing a firearm at me and telling me to open the door, I started screaming and hooting. At that stage my daughter was hysterical because the man started banging the window trying to break it. My daughter was afraid that they were going to shoot us and kept telling me to open the door.
“My daughter then opened her door and the men rushed to her side. The first thing they asked for was my handbag. She was holding two bags on her lap, one of which was filled with her newly bought make-up worth a lot of money.”
Govender said two guns were pointed at her daughter during the ordeal.
“As they were taking our valuables, they pointed two guns; one to her head and one to her thighs. The whole experience was very traumatising because, during this whole ordeal, I kept screaming hysterically and hooting until my neighbours came out with baseball bats and all.
“When my neighbours came the robbers pointed firearms at them and they went back into their houses, but they interrupted them as they got back into their car. I quickly locked the car doors and reversed. At that point our headlights were facing theirs and they didn’t move.
“I drove fast past them and went straight to the police station.”
Govender’s husband was behind them but didn’t meet the robbers. She also mentioned that the suspects also made away with cellphones and a laptop, their annual returns and an undisclosed amount of cash.
“My husband locked up our store and was five minutes behind us but I think it was for the better that he wasn’t there. I think it would have been a worse situation had he been there.
“I think they had been watching me the whole day because I had a lot of deliveries that day, going in-and-out of my car with my handbag and it was the first thing they asked for when they robbed us.
“That evening we were so busy that we closed late. We normally close the doors at 7.30pm but we were still serving customers and ended up leaving late.”
Govender said she wanted the community to be alert at all times.
“I just want to warn the public of the crimes happening in the area and shame the people who are stealing from women who are making an honest living and providing for their families. My mom is a pensioner and my daughter is 17 and the scare and trauma they leave you with is severe. I just want people to be aware that such an incident took place and they should be careful.”
Govender, owner of Amma Spice Curry Palace, said regardless of the incident, they still do good for their community, which includes being part of feeding children every Wednesday.
“But there are people out there who are lazy and who use firearms to intimidate honest businesses owners and people who earn their living. We had a very good day and they took all that hard-earned cash which is why we encourage people to pay with their cards instead of cash.
“We are trying to get counselling because I still get nightmares because of that incident. I don’t feel safe and one shouldn’t live in fear, your home should be a place of peace but they just take away the freedom you once had. They take away something more than the monetary things.
“No one should go through such an ordeal. We are meant to use the tools that God gave us for good. We should give to others, not take from them. We had to close shop for a few days and replace all that they took which isn’t easy at all.
“I wanted to share my story so people can be careful and not fall victim to such.”
