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By Cornelia Le Roux

Digital Deputy News Editor


WATCH: Klerksdorp dad’s jaw crushed as bullets fly during bloody shootout with robbers

A video showing three Klerksdorp men take on two armed home invaders has gone viral. Take a look...


What was supposed to be a relaxing kick-off to the weekend with some friends, turned into a nightmare for a Klerksdorp man when the trio were caught off-guard by two armed robbers in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 36-year-old Fritz Smit’s jaw was crushed by a bullet during a shootout which ensued after the balaclava-clad men entered the area where he and his friends were having a “kuier“.

WATCH: Klerksdorp Saturday shootout

The incident took place just before 3am according to CCTV footage which has since been shared on social media along with a Back-A-Buddy initiative to assist the father of three with his medical bills.

The video shows three men conversing at a table in a room of Smit’s home when the masked intruders enter the property and point their guns at the friends.

One of the victims however has a weapon on him and pulls it on the assailants. Bullets fly in every direction as heavy gunfire is exchanged, wounding the unarmed Smit in the face.

Disclaimer: The footage contains graphic images which some readers might find upsetting.

No arrests made

According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani, a case of attempted murder is under investigation. No arrests have been made and the motive for the incident is still unclear.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Klerksdorp man fends off robbers with knife and Amaberete stomp another into ground

Crime in SA: Increasing trend of break-ins and robberies

On 16 February, Police Minister Bheki Cele presented the latest crime statistics for the third quarter of 2023/2024, which covers October to December 2023.

According to the South African Police Service (Saps) data, burglaries at residential premises decreased by 4.4% year-on-year. However, compared to the second quarter of 2023, residential robberies with aggravated circumstance increased by 6.8%.

Although robberies with aggravated circumstances at houses increased by only 1.7% year-on-year, they were up by almost 5.2% from the second quarter.

This shows an increasing trend for both break-ins and robberies in South Africa.

While similar in nature (criminal trespassing and theft), burglaries occur when a thief enters a home intending to steal while the victim is not present, while robberies happen when the victim is present and threatened during the theft.

Despite decreasing year-on-year, burglaries still far outstrip robberies in South Africa in number, and – after drug-related crime and assault – is the biggest crime subcategory in the country.

NOW READ: Deadly Klerksdorp car park assault latest: Attacker has allegedly left SA

Read more on these topics

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