Domestic worker saves children during house robbery

Leo, 10, Vince, 6, and Juliette, 2, were at home on Tuesday at about 9am being looked after by the family’s domestic worker Veronica Hlopulusa, Rekord Centurion reported.

It is believed Vince was in the living room when he decided to get some food from the kitchen. On his way he was confronted by an unknown man standing in their home

Vince immediately screamed for help. Hlopulusa ran into the house and saw the man. She grabbed Vince and ran past the man, further into the house, grabbed Juliette and ran out through the front door.

Meanwhile, Leo had locked himself in his room. Hlopulusa, with Vince and Juliette, had run into the garden. Hlopulusa ran to Leo’s bedroom window and shouted at him to get out.

Leo reportedly kicked out his bedroom window, shattering the glass. He jumped out, but as he was manoeuvring through the window, his leg got caught by a chunk of broken window pane, ripping out a piece of his leg muscle.

Hlopulusa and the three children then ran through the garden towards the neighbour’s house. They climbed over the fence, into the neighbour’s yard, from where Hlopulusa phoned Janine, the children’s mother.

During the time that Janine was rushing from work to her home, the two men tried to break into the neighbour’s house.

The men fled when they saw the CPF members arriving at the house with Monitor Net and ADT in tow.

Leo was taken to hospital for surgery.

Hannes du Buisson, head of a community safety body Centurion Concerned Citizens said the organisation would award certificates of bravery to Leo and Hlopulusa.

“They showed exceptional bravery, and we feel they must be awarded,” added Du Buisson.

Last month, a 72-year-old man was shot and injured during a house robbery in Ramsgate, KwaZulu-Natal.

Police spokesperson Captain Gerald Mfeka said Arnold Miller had taken his daughter to school, leaving his wife, Patricia Tench-Wilkinson, 57, at home when two armed suspects entered their house demanding money and keys to the safe before threatening to rape their domestic worker.

– Caxton News Service