Residents are concerned about a gang that is operating in the suburb of Melville. Their modus operandi is to target, attack and rob cyclists.
Michael Meyer a resident of Bryanston was attacked by four men last week while cycling with a friend, “Two of the guys had the biggest sticks I have ever seen,” said Meyer. He said that his friend was cycling in front of him when he was attacked by the four men.
“They hit me on the head with the stick. Fortunately I was wearing a helmet,” said Meyer. He fell to the ground while the men tried to take his backpack. Meyer’s friend realised what was going on behind him and then went back to aid his friend. They managed to shake the robbers but the suspects still loitered around and followed Meyer and his friend to the garage. “Eventually the guys went away,” said Meyer.
Meyer sustained some injuries to his elbows, cheek, back and knee.
Four cases have been confirmed in one week by residents that have been attacked. One resident, who asked to stay anonymous because he feared for his safety said that he managed to get away when he was attacked at 7am on the corners of Rustenburg Road and Barry Hertzog Avenue. “The guy came at me with a large tree branch and swung it at me, fortunately I managed to get away,” said the resident.
The resident described the suspect who attacked him as a young man, “It is no secret that Melville has a problem with young boys who smoke nyaope,” he said. Residents are speculating that the boys who use nyaope are targeting bikers to sell the stolen goods for a fix. They run through the water drainage pipe to get to town. The man is in the process of opening a case with Brixton Police. “I would not want such a problem to escalate to murder. Cyclists and residents should be alert at all times,” he said.
Brixton Police communications officer Jeanette Backhoff said, “No charges have been laid as yet and the police and crime intelligence are not aware of these hijackings.”
