It is alleged that a few guys managed to chase the suspects who were in possession of the girl’s belongings as well as a gun and two pepper sprays. Other members of the community also joined in to ‘teach the suspects a lesson’ by beating them up before calling the police to the scene.

According to an eyewitness whose name is known to Sedibeng Ster, he was in a car with a friend when he saw a girl being chased by four boys from the open veld. “We immediately gave chase after they robbed the victim. We were later joined by members of the community as we taught these boys a lesson.”

A member of the Bedworth-Park Community Policing Forum, who also did not want to be named states that the crime rate in the area is very high. “As residents and members of the CPF, we are really tired of the high rate of crime in our area.

“The students living in the area live in fear because they are not safe. We would like to urge the police to work with us in making sure that this area is safe for everyone who lives in it.”

Vereeniging Police spokesperson Captain Fikile Funda says, “The victim explained that she was coming from campus when she was robbed by four guys. The suspects whose ages range between 16 and19 were taken into custody by Vereeniging Police on Saturday.”

Funda adds that the 16-year-old boy has been released into the custody of his parents as guided by the Child Justice Act.

“One of the boys is currently under police guard in hospital while two others are in police custody.”

Funda states that the arrest of the boys might have uncovered a robbery syndicate. He adds that the police are confident that further investigations will link the boys to other robberies that have been taking place in the Bedworth-park area. “Further more, police are investigating a case of armed robbery and the unlawful possession of a firearm,” Funda concludes.