Residents of Randpark are on edge following a brazen late-night attack that has raised concerns about the limits of home security and safety.

A property on Gertrude Street, equipped with surveillance cameras and an electric fence, became the target of three-armed men. Despite the house being secured, the intruders managed to breach the perimeter by forcefully removing panels from a concrete wall. They sneaked behind trees and waited until the lights were off to enter the house.

Homeowner Yeagan Naiker was awakened by his dog’s barking. “I got out, I opened my door, and I saw a guy standing in the spare bedroom door. Everything was dark, because I always have all my lights off. I had a little axe with me, so, when I raised the axe, the guy fired the shot, the first shot. Then he fired two more shots after that, and ran out the sliding door.”

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The sound of gunfire pierced the night, but the attackers fled the scene immediately, retreating through the rear of the property. Beyond the boundary lies a dense, overgrown bush area, which provided the perfect cover for their escape.

Emergency services were called, along with the police, and the injured homeowner received medical attention. “They said they’re going to investigate. I wouldn’t hold my breath for all those investigations, because there’s nothing that ever comes of it. This is not the first time this has happened on this property. This is the third time since 2017.”

He further elaborated on other two incidents. “They always enter at the back of that wall. Where the bush is thick. They break the panels and come in there, all three times.”

SAPS Gauteng spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlhane, confirmed that a case of attempted murder has been opened at Linden Police Station. “No one has been arrested yet. The motive behind the incident is not yet known. Police investigations are continuing.”

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She added that they are appealing to members of the community with information regarding the incident, or any information that might assist police investigations, to contact their nearest police station or the police crime stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, they can use the MySAPSApp to provide tipoffs anonymously.

At the front of the property sits the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) site, where the contractor working on Gertrude Bridge’s erosion project was stationed. This made it easier for the criminals to hide and to disappear, as it hasn’t been maintained in months.

One of the residents, Priscilla Cillie, confirmed that the site was recently cleared, after four months of reporting. “There were people living in the campsite. The site is still dirty, as they did not clean, but Beagle Watch will cut the bush every two to three weeks.”

Naiker added that he was lucky to escape from what he believes could have been worse. “The guy fired from a metre away. He was close and he missed. I think they thought I was coming out with a gun. The fortunate part is all the lights were off inside the house, so they couldn’t see properly.”

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