A suspected armed robber was shot dead during a robbery after an elderly couple from Middelburg, Mpumalanga was attacked by three robbers in their home in broad daylight.
Fanie (76) and Rola (74) Schoeman was in their home on Monday, June 29, 2015, at about 08:15 when they were overpowered by three armed robbers. The couple’s daughter, Nijinka Botes, told Maroela Media her father went to open the door for the housekeeper. She then went outside to hang the laundry.
“While she was at the washing line, the three robbers slipped into the house. One of them forced her into the living room and pressed a knife to her throat. They forced her to sit forward so she could not face them,” said Botes.
Moments later Fanie came out of the bathroom, they attacked him and tried to push him down to the ground. Fanie continued to resist and fought back, then one of the robbers began stabbing him from behind with a knife.
“They pushed my dad to the room and kept saying they were looking for guns and money,” said Botes. “My mother was still on the bed in the room and one of them jumped on top of her and started strangling her with trimmer line. She fought back and he couldn’t succeed.”
Meanwhile, the robbers continued wrestling with Fanie at the bedside and he managed to push his hand under his pillow and got hold of his revolver.
“He could not see anything because there was too much blood in his eyes, but he put his gun against something and shot. The robbers fled with my father’s wallet and his gun.”
Fanie was admitted to Midmed-hospital with five stab wounds, one of which is through his lung. One of his ribs is broken, his hand was cut and he had severe bruises. Rola was largely unscathed and sustained a wound to her hand.
According to Botes, the alleged wounded robber was later arrested under a bridge with the revolver still in his possession. He died on Monday night in hospital.
“My father was constantly fighting to protect my mother and she also fought to protect him. They fought for each other. On Monday they celebrated their 53th wedding anniversary in the hospital,” said Botes.
She said her parents are very alert and always very careful, “They (the robbers) probably monitored the house and the moment the door opened, they slipped inside. It was not like my parents gave them the opportunity, they are always very careful.”
She said her father was discharged Wednesday morning, but do not want to be in the bedroom where they were attacked. “He only sits all the time on the couch with his children around him. We will certainly take him and my mother for counseling to deal with the trauma.”
Capt. Khanyesile Zwane confirmed the incident and said a case of house robbery is being investigated. No other suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
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