SECUNDA – “Cooperate and do not fight back.”
Those words said by an armed robber in a television interview Mr Deon Madanjith (34) recently watched, kept mulling through his mind when a gang of armed robbers stormed into his house in Joe Slovo Street last Tuesday night, 6 November.
Mr Madanjith, his wife Chantal and daughter, Azaria (2 years), and his in-laws, Mr Allan and Ms Claire Govender who came to visit from Durban the previous day, were at home when they were attacked just after 7pm.
“My father in-law finished his cigarette outside and came into the house through the garage. I was heading to close the door when this man suddenly cocked a pistol and held it to my face,” Mr Madanjith said.
He is not entirely sure how many balaclava-clad men entered his home, because his family were all forced to lie face down on the floor, but estimated the gang to be at least five men strong.
Ms Madanjith, who is 20 weeks pregnant, was allowed to lie on her side and comfort her crying daughter.
“At one stage, they demanded that I take them to the safe.
“They kept telling me not to be a hero. A short guy hit me on the head with the gun.
“They spoke English well and communicated with each other in Zulu.
The robbers ransacked the house and stole various items, including valuable jewelry, kitchen appliances, cell phones, clothes, electronic devices, and bedding.
Mr Madanjith’s safety boots were also stolen, as was the case in a similar house robbery in Evander the week before.
The gunmen forced their loot into the two vehicles in the garage, a 2012 BMW 335i and a 2010 Audi S3.
They dumped the large flat screen television in the yard when it could not fit into the vehicles.
“The gunman who seemed to be the ringleader kept asking if the vehicles were fitted with tracking devices.
“I assured him that there were no tracking devices in the cars.
“He threatened to return and harm us if he was to find out that I had lied to him.
The family was eventually closed in a room and told to wait until the robbers had left.
“When all was quiet, I hit the panic button to alert SSS.”
The police, StratconRisk and No Jack Recovery arrived at the scene and were able to trace the robbers to Tsakane in Brakpan.
Capt Bettina Zondo, spokesperson for the Secunda Police, said StratconRisk was able to locate the stolen Audi that was not fitted with a tracking device.
“The robbers reached their destination within 45 minutes.”
The vehicle was recovered, but no arrests were made.
“We appreciate working together with security companies. We thank StratconRisk and SSS for their help,” said Capt Zondo.
She could not yet confirm if this robbery was pulled off by the same gang who hit the two other houses in Evander, one in Kinross and another in Leandra within the past two months.
Mr Jacques Alberts of StratconRisk said they gladly assist the police in their fight against the increasing crime rate.
“My team is specially trained to for this and we will help were possible to make our community a safer place.”
He said residents can join their channel, Stratcon Support, on Zello free of charge.
