The owners of Ancient Days Antiques and Guest Cottages feared for their lives on Wednesday evening when shots were fired at their home.
The incident took place at approximately 22:05 at the corner of HF Verwoerd and Hospital Street. Five shots were fired at the former Drosdy (office or residence of a landdrost) but the only real damage that was done was two bullet holes to the signage of the business and one that entered the roof of the house.
No persons were injured and it is believed that the perpetrators tried to use the lamp, situated on the corner, as target practice.
“We heard the gunshots and then a car sped away. We were terrified at the time,” owner Dirk Kotze told members of Heidelberg SAPS.
Kotze and his wife Wena were about to go to bed when the incident took place. Understandably frightened, they immediately phoned Crime Stop who were on the scene within minutes. Two members of Heidelberg Community Police Forum (CPF) arrived shortly after the security company and they discovered the shells of a 9mm weapon in the street.
The CPF members, who had also radioed Heidelberg SAPS, cordoned off the area where the shells lay on the ground and diverted traffic to ensure that the scene would not be disturbed before the police had a chance to investigate.
Four of the five bullet shells were recovered.
“I think it was one of those ‘hold my drink; watch this move’ situations,” Kotze said of the shooting.
“I’m just glad nobody was hurt.”
