A West Acres family is demanding justice for their daughter who was robbed at gunpoint in their house in July last year.
The girl’s father, Alan Taylor, said they were unhappy that a year after the attack, the trial has not started yet and the police were not updating them on the case’s progress. The girl, who was 19 at the time, thought her home was a safe place.
However, Bheki Mhlanga (40), an illegal immigrant from Mozambique, allegedly entered the yard while the teenager was outside. He then reportedly forced her into the house with a modified shotgun.
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“He demanded that she show him the safe in the house and the keys, despite her telling him there was no safe,” said Taylor.
“He was holding her and moving from one room to the other in search of a safe, until the domestic worker came from the kitchen and saw what was happening. She ran screaming for help. But the suspect caught her and beat her, telling her to be quiet. He locked her in the bathroom. All this time, the perpetrator held my daughter by the neck. Still not believing her, he asked to be shown the main bedroom.”
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Taylor said while the suspect searched the bedroom for a safe, the domestic worker managed to escape through the bathroom window, injuring her leg in the process.
Despite her injury, she ran to get help. Meanwhile, the suspect allegedly managed to make off with laptops, cellphones and jewellery before help arrived.
“Security companies and the police were alerted and a search was immediately launched, but he got away. After hiding in Mataffin for two weeks, one of the security companies tracked him down and found him in possession of some of the stolen property and the same gun he had used when he allegedly attacked my daughter. She later pointed him out as the man who had broken into the house,” Taylor said.
Taylor was shocked to learn that Mhlanga was released on bail in July this year without their knowledge. Mhlanga was, however, rearrested a week later after allegedly resuming his robbing spree around Mbombela.
Lowvelder has seen CCTV footage of a suspect resembling Mhlanga breaking into homes and carrying a stolen TV.
According to the victim’s father, the girl is still severely traumatised and cannot bear being at home alone.
“All I want is justice for my daughter and for this man to be removed from the streets. The fact that this [alleged] criminal had been a free man was a problem for her and his other victims.” Taylor committed to doing whatever it took to ensure that justice was served.
The provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, confirmed that Mhlanga had been arrested and charged with house robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.
“He was released on bail in July, but was rearrested for house robbery and possession of stolen property. He was denied bail and is currently in police custody.”
As to Taylor’s concerns about Mhlanga being released, Mdhluli said only the court can grant an accused bail, and the police do not interfere with court issues.
The investigation regarding the new charges against Mhlanga continues.
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