Heroic boy saves mother during robbery
Matric boy heroically jumps off balcony to alert officials minutes before rapid gun fire at the Waterkloof Junction in Elardus Park on Tuesday morning.
A security officer was shot dead by a robber in Elardus Park in the early hours of Tuesday.
Bull Security reaction officer JP van Niekerk died on the scene despite attempts by colleague Neil Botha to resuscitate him.
The two were alerted to a burglary in progress thanks to the heroics of a matric boy at Waterkloof Junction complex in Elardus Park.
Lyttelton police spokesperson Warrant officer Gumbu said the boy’s actions were crucial to alerting the officials and he possibly saved his mother’s life.
“Five armed men with balaclavas gained entry into a residence inside the complex in Waterkloof Junction.”
Gumbu said two of the armed men entered the mother’s bedroom through a sliding door and forced her to the ground.
“It seems they were in a scuffle with the women, attempting to tie her up with cable ties.”
Gumbu said the boy — only identified as Robert — apparently heard the commotion and jumped over the balcony and landed near the patio.
“He ran to the neighbour’s house, where there is an alarm activated by motion. The boy set off the alarm by waving his hand at a sensor, summoning Bull Security.”
Bull Security arrived on the scene and a shootout erupted.
Botha said he and Van Niekerk responded to a house burglary in Waterkloof Junction around 01:50.
“We received a phone call around 01:50 from one of our clients and I called JP for back-up,” Botha said.
On arrival, Botha went to the back door and Van Niekerk tactically moved to the front door.
Botha said Van Niekerk was hit and died in the line of fire, shot by one of the five armed robbers.
One of the robbers was shot dead and another wounded. Gumbu said the severely wounded robber was taken to Tembisa Hospital.
Botha said he tried in vain to resuscitate JP before the paramedics arrived.
Three armed men fled the scene and were still at large, Gumbu said.
He described them as professionals who knew exactly what they were doing as they had handguns with serial numbers filed off.
He said police would follow every lead to ensure they ended up behind bars.
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