A family from Mohlakeng, whose daughter’s cellphone was stolen during a life-threatening robbery, are demanding that the municipality come to the community’s aid, and make Nlhapo Street safer.
The victim, 24, who said a knife was used during the robbery, said she would not have been subjected to the trauma if the street had lights and far fewer big trees.
Relaying the incident, the victim, who was with a friend during the robbery said, “I think the guys were following us, but we only realised this when it was too late. One of them grabbed me by the neck and demanded my phone. In his other hand, he was holding a knife”.
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She said the perpetrators were clearly waiting for them to reach a darker part of the street before they attacked. She added that the loss of her phone has been a big inconvenience, as she is a student.
Her concerned father said there have been many incidents on the same street in the past.
“The problem is that the section of the street is a good hideout for robbers. As soon as they rob someone, they can quickly disappear into Mampodo Street, which is also unlit. That place is really unsafe – a woman was once killed there. Even during the afternoon, you can see four to six men hanging around doing nothing,” he said.
He said this a cause for concern and the only thing that can be done is to cut down the trees and install street lights.
The family said what makes the whole situation even more strange is that the phone still rings when they call it.
“We recently called it, and a man answered. He told us to stop calling ‘his’ cellphone,” the father said.
Victims’ names withheld to protect their safety — Ed.
