In a press release issued by SAPS yesterday, SA Police Services confirmed St Francis Bay police are investigating a case of house robbery and attempted murder after a homeowner shot and wounded a house robbery suspect during the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Majola Nkohli, said it was alleged at around 02:45 five men armed with crowbars and knives forced open the lounge window of a house in Waratah Avenue, Cape St Francis.
Nkohli said the couple inside the house were attacked and during a scuffle the homeowner was able to get his licensed firearm. “He shot and wounded one of the suspects. The other four suspects fled the scene, and the wounded suspect ran a short distance but fell near the driveway.”
Police recovered a crowbar, cable ties and two stolen cell phones, one of which were in possession of the suspect.
The homeowner sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene and the rest of the family, his wife and two children were unharmed..
The injured suspect, 26, was taken to hospital and placed under police guard whilst the police are searching for the other four suspects who managed to flee the scene.
Dane Shaw, chairman of Cape St Francis Civic Association commented that in view of what is an increasing security threat, the time has come to consider proceeding with the proposed extension to security fence line from the Air Park through to the R330, as well as across to the entrance to Rebels Rus reserve entrance (see graphics below). As the project would be costly Shaw said Civics will be looking at ways to fund this and other security projects that Civics have in the pipeline.
Following this and so many other incidences in recent months, the news in yesterday’s St Francis Today’s news regarding the CCTV cameras planned for St Francis highlights our region’s leaders understanding of just how important it is to bolster our security in every way possible. That SFPO had the foresight include CCTV in their SRA plans and although there are some still opposed to the SRA’s plans it is interesting to note that some 20% of SRA contributions will go directly to paying for the CCTV and other security measures.
Whilst the SRA introduced in St Francis Bay’s sees improvements to the town being more fairly shared by all property owners, Cape St Francis Civics Association relies on membership fees with the rest of what they do coming from donations.
Faced with last night’s incident in Cape St Francis and similar incidents occurring in the future, this is indeed a pittance to pay to minimise the possibility of similar intrusions and attacks with possible loss of life.
Could the costs of opposing the SFPO’s efforts to improve SFB not be better spent making our region a better and safer place to live?
FOOTNOTE: Let us pray that the attempted murder charge against a man protecting his family be dismissed immediately. To put a family through further trauma with an absolutely stupid law is ridiculous. It is a natural instinct of almost every being, human and animal, to protect their family when threatened!
Just a thought? I think it is of utmost importance that cctv cameras are setup in the area and would suggest that a vehicle number plate recognition camera also be installed. As far as I know these are connected directly to a division within the SAPS and will pickup stolen and wanted cars.There are a couple of gents from PE in the Security business who may be able to give some advice in this regard.
Those opposing the security upgrades must surely feel like barefoot twenty year-olds in grade 5. They number less than one percent. As a community lets get together and assist them.
Would a fence stop this type of crime though?
I have read several articles on this recent break in. All the articles except this one were by different journalists and each of them are almost identical to each other, typical copy and paste journalism of today. reporting only the exact words stated by the SAPS Spokesperson. Is this what we are reduced to? No-one points out what would have happened if this brave Father and local homeowner had not defended himself with his legal and licenced firearm. He and his family would have been tied with the cable ties, beaten with the crowbars and cut with knives or worse. That was clearly the barbaric intention of these 5 attackers. This one man at 2.45am had every right to defend himself, he and his young family were being attacked by 5 men who were in his home with crowbars and knives. Any law that even considers charging him with anything is clearly insane, and tragically signals that one of our most basic human rights, our right to defend our own lives in our own homes has been stripped from us. I would rather see the man receive a medal.
We do agree in terms of the ludicrous charge of attempted murder hence our footnote. “Let us pray that the attempted murder charge against a man protecting his family be dismissed immediately. To put a family through further trauma with an absolutely stupid law is ridiculous. It is a natural instinct of almost every being, human and animal, to protect their family when threatened!”
It is with sadness that I take note of this incident. It is however with no excitement that I read of SAPS in St Francis investigating case of “robbery and attempted murder”. After my experience with SAPS in St Francis Bay, I have my doubts if the investigation will lead to arrest(s) and conviction of suspects. My disappointment in SAPS is based on a robbery in Anne Avenue during the night of 18 December 2017. Although a suspect was identified (and photographed) and the stolen goods were recovered from his place of residence in Humansdorp (by SAPS Jeffreys Bay) only days after the robbery, he (the suspect) and his accomplices have to date not been arrested and tried. I have since claimed my property (tv, sound system) from SAPS Humansdorp.
I communicated my experience (robbery) to my Anne Ave. neighbour only to hear that his house was robbed under similar circumstances.
I have been in touch with SAPS St Francis Bay (without success) on numerous occasions regarding this matter.
Unfortunately I have little hope that cases like these would be solved with what appears to be a lack of enthusiasm and performance to serve our community by our local SAPS branch.
Time to start naming and shaming those who, after due process has been observed to get us this far, are attempting to derail the incredible effort and work done by the SFPO. Only they have a clear vision and plan to secure our area for the good of all who live in it. As has been correctly pointed out, to the extent that legal proceedings occur, we the community will be paying for this.
I would shoot them to, only they wouldn’t be alive to tell about it! Our laws need to be changed to allow shooting of any stranger in your home, just like in many states in America- as a result, the problems we have, don’t exist there. Knives and crowbars are just as deadly as guns.