A would-be crime victim in Lower Church Street got away unharmed on Thursday 5 June after a local councillor Yusuf Mohamad halted an attempted robbery of a delivery bakkie.
Yusuf Mohamed, who is the councillor for Ward 57, explained that he was making his way down Lower Church Street heading toward the CBD when he came across an active attempted robbery.
The incident involved the driver of the bakkie and a mob of between 20 to 30 people, some of them armed with knives.
“An individual jumped in front of the bakkie to stop the driver. A group then emerged and threw bricks under his wheels and grabbed his keys. Within seconds, he was surrounded by what must have been 20 or 30 individuals.
“I stopped because I already knew what was going to happen next, I called the Cape Town emergency service call centre before I got out of my car. A tow truck driver also showed up shortly after me,” explained Mohamed.
Mohamed said they then confronted the mob. “The fact that I stopped and the tow truck driver – we were enough of a deterrent not to overwhelm the driver. Some of the perpetrators were trying to get into his vehicle.”
He said within minutes officers from the Metro Police, Traffic Services and Woodstock police showed up.
“The CCTV camera on the N1 showed visuals of what was happening. They had eyes on us while the Metro Police were on their way. When traffic services arrived the individual who took the driver’s keys gave his keys back and the whole mob disappeared.”
He said the driver was unharmed and escorted by police.
Col Delven Matroos station commander at the Woodstock Police Station said no case was reported and no arrests had been made.
Matroos confirmed that the area is a hotspot for smash-and-grab.
“The area is being monitored daily. Cyclists were targeted there in the past.”
Mohamed said the situation was “extremely dangerous”.
“I’m eternally thankful to the members for their response. At first sight of enforcement services, they vanished. I shudder to think what might have happened had I not stopped to assist.”
According to Mohamed, the area is a well-known smash-and-grab hotspot and is being monitored during peak traffic.
“It’s a problematic area and we are hoping that Transnet and Prasa (land owners) can come up with a plan to address this.”
The councillor said he didn’t for one minute hesitate to help when he arrived at the scene.
“If someone is in danger you can’t just drive past and ignore it. I believe that is the problem with society. We see wrong things and then we just look the other way. It’s not right.”
