The misfire of a robber’s gun saved the life of a local man in a terrifying home invasion on a farm outside Shakaskraal, near Ballito this morning.
Bruce Meikle, the nephew of home owners Dave and Annie White is being treated at Netcare Alberlito hospital.
At about 8am five armed men forced their way into the White’s home,
Only Annie and two domestic workers were in the house. The men roughed the women up, demanding cash, firearms and the White’s panic button – to prevent them from alerting their security company.
For about two hours the intruders held the three women hostage, waiting for Dave to return to the house from his nearby workshop for his business Tomcat Boats and threatening that “you will never see your children again.”
Shortly after 10am Dave returned to the house with his nephew Bruce, only to find the robbers lying in wait.
One of the men put a pistol to Meikle’s chest and pulled the trigger. Miraculously the gun misfired – but the shock caused Meikle to experience what they think was a heart attack.
The pair were further assaulted and together with the other hostages, were forced into the walk-in safe in the house.
“It is because of your president, president Zuma, that we must steal,” one of the men said to White during the ordeal.
After about 20 minutes the men fled in the White’s 1984 Toyota Corolla, with an undisclosed amount of cash, a pistol and cellphones.
After which Meikle was able to phone for help.
The Whites expressed their sincere thanks to Alpha Security and Patrols and the SAPS for the speed with which they responded.
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