Mohamed Patel’s routine visit to his father’s gravesite in Section C Westpark Cemetery – bordered by Montgomery Park, Sophiatown and Emmarentia in Johannesburg – ended in a bloody affair on Sunday.

Northcliff Melville Times reports that two men with a gun and a knife ambushed him and his friend.

Patel says they arrived at the cemetery at 16:30, pausing at the graveside to read, when the pair approached from behind. One man pointed a gun at him while the second held Patel’s friend, who had been standing roughly 10m away.

With his hands raised, Patel allowed the gunman to search him. His cellphone was taken, but as the robber tucked the firearm into his waistband to continue searching him, Patel fought back.

In the struggle, he managed to pull the weapon, causing the magazine to drop to the ground. Hearing the commotion, the second attacker left Patel’s friend and rushed over. Patel, locked in a struggle with the first man, could not see the second approaching from behind.

Moments later, he felt a single stab to the middle of his back. Bleeding heavily, Patel watched as both men fled the scene. He received six stitches, and was advised to open a case at Sophiatown SAPS as soon as possible.

According to Mahmood Bhaai Cassim, who serves on the Johannesburg District Community Police Board and is part of Vulnerable Citizens Support Initiative (VCSI), residents visiting a cemetery should not go alone and should be constantly on guard.

“We tend to be in a different frame of mind when visiting the graves of our loved ones, but please remain vigilant at all times. It’s also best not to take valuables with. We are more vulnerable when in deserted areas, such as cemeteries.”

Northcliff Melville Times sent a media query to City Parks about the stabbing. Further information will be published once received.

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