- Two teenagers arrested after three DA MPs attacked with rocks during an attempted robbery in Philippi hotspot.
- One suspect shot during the attack now under police guard in hospital as cases opened for attempted murder.
Two teenagers have been arrested after three Democratic Alliance MPs were attacked with rocks during an attempted robbery in Philippi.
An 18-year-old suspect was arrested when he sought medical help in Lentegeur on Tuesday evening.
The second suspect, a 16-year-old, was arrested in Philippi’s Brown Farm after detectives worked through the night and into Wednesday morning.
Their arrests followed the attempted robbery and attempted murder of three DA MPs who were attacked while returning from a visit to the police training college in Philippi, Cape Town.
Ian Cameron, Parliament’s police portfolio committee chairperson, Lisa Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell experienced what residents face every day.
Gotsell was taken to hospital but is not in a critical condition. Cameron sustained minor injuries after their vehicle was smashed with three large stones at one of the smash-and-grab hotspot areas in Philippi.
Cameron said they are all safe, with Gotsell receiving treatment and Schickerling having a minor head injury.
“I got some injuries, including a few stitches and dental damage, but nothing life-threatening. This was a serious and deliberate attack, and it shows the risk faced during oversight work but incidents like this will not stop us,” said Cameron.
Nyanga Community Policing Forum secretary Dumisani Qwabe said what happened is sad.
“I think Ian is now thinking about what I said to him, asking him to help fight crime in that area but he ignored me on his page. The city will understand what we have talked about as we have been asking for cameras next to the mall,” said Qwabe.
He said they have been writing letters and now that the incident has happened he hopes they will respond fast because they have experienced it.
“Maybe now they will finally understand the pain we are feeling every day, and we believe that cameras in that area will make a huge change and save a lot of innocent people who are targeted by criminals,” said Qwabe.
Provincial Commissioner Thembisile Patekile said one person who had apparently been shot, when one of the people in the vehicle the suspects targeted allegedly fired a shot during the attack, is currently under police guard in hospital.
Pictured above: Ian Cameron, Parliament’s police portfolio committee chairperson, Lisa Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell were attacked in Philippi township, Cape Town.
Image source: Supplied
