Mr William Nkosi, who was the victim of a house robbery, decided to rather fight back than drive three criminals to Nelspruit in his own car.
On June 5 on Friday morning, the victim was at home sleeping when three men allegedly broke into his house. They apparently broke the window in the lounge at the front of the house and went to his son’s room first.
The three suspects rounded the family up into one bedroom under their watch while one of the suspects probed the house for things to steal.
They apparently stole all of their cell phones and clothing as well as a large amount of cash and other electronic items. They even took cool drinks and food from the kitchen.
“They took whatever they came across,” said the Nkosi. The family is stunned at everything the robbers stole. “They even took my son’s school clothes,” he said in disbelief.
To the surprise of the victims, the suspects did not flee the scene with the loot.
Instead they demanded that he drive them in his own car to Maputo. He protested begging them not to make him drive. The robbers then told the frightened man to take them as far as Nelspruit.
“I realised then that they did not know how to drive,” said the victim. Unsure about what they planned to do with him if he did take them to Nelspruit he decided to devise an excuse to stop the car and then somehow call for help.
Nkosi stopped at the Total garage just before the N12 off ramp. He apparently told them that he did not have enough petrol in to make the trip and had to fill up, which was not the truth.
When he stopped outside the garage next to a fuel pump he made his move. Apparently he fought the robbers for control of the gun.
The robber, who was sitting in the passenger seat with the gun, was caught off guard. Nkosi jumped out of the car with the gun and tried to throw the gun on the roof of the garage before running into the shop to call for help. However the weapon landed on the ground and the suspects ran to recover it. The shop attendant saw the commotion and immediately called the police after locking himself inside the shop.
Nkosi apparently then ran around the other side of the garage to hide.
He said the robbers tried to get away in his car but it seems they really did not know how to drive, as they eventually left the car there and escaped on foot minutes before the sirens and the lights of the police vehicle came across the bridge.
Even though no one was hurt the family has been extensively affected by the incident.
Not only did they lose so many of their belongings but he says it has impacted them emotionally as well.
Sgt David Ratau has warned victims who are faced with an armed robber not to resist or fight back, as this could likely lead to a fatal situation. However in the case of William Nkosi it seems that he beat the odds.
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