Nellmapius family fear for their safety after house robbery
The couple said they no longer feel safe at night, because one of the attackers is known to the community and “the police are failing to protect us”.
A couple in Nellmapius is living in fear after they were held at gunpoint in front of their children by a criminal gang who robbed them of all their electrical appliances.
Mokgwatsane Kgwerane (45) and Pulani Mojapelo (35), who reside at Nellmapius ext. 24 informal settlement, said they were attacked by the gang in the early hours of Saturday.
The couple said they no longer felt safe at night because one of the attackers was known to the community.
“This man, who we believe to be the gang leader, walks freely in the streets of Nellmapius and stays not far from our place,” said Kgwerane.
They claimed the man from the gang, who is known to them, came to their house and made an offer to buy one of their TVs.
“The gang of about 15 members then kicked down our door and forced their way into our home and held me at gunpoint.”
He said the children were asleep and were awaken by the shots fired inside the house.
Kgwerane said he was with their twin girls of two months when the gang entered the room. The other four children were sleeping in another room.
The gang ransacked the home and took a sound system, two TVs, an amplifier and two cellphones.
“Luckily, I decided to park my car somewhere safe because the gang kept asking me to take them to where I parked my car.”
Mojapelo said the children were now living in fear and were traumatised by the whole incident.
“We were attacked and the gang threatened to kill our babies if we didn’t comply,” said Mojapelo.
“The following day we went to open a case of house robbery at Mamelodi East police station. The police only gave us a case number and promised to come and arrest the suspects.
“We are still waiting for the police, despite giving them all the necessary information about the suspects’ whereabouts.”
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The family of eight complained police were failing them.
Mojapelo pleaded with the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele to intervene.
Police spokesperson, Constable Lethabo Mashiloane said the police are investigating a case of house robbery and no suspect had been arrested yet.
Mashiloane did not comment on the allegations that police had failed the family.
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