Sixty children from Grahamstown, aged between of 14 and 17 spent the weekend at Matalatala Game Reserve on Kameeldrift, Cullinan, to participate in a school rowing championship tournament. Parents and teachers were also present during the weekend event.
The safety of the children was the priority of the manager of the bushveld reserve. Five armed robbers held him and the children hostage and although he remained calm and levelheaded, he gave the suspects what they wanted, including helping them to deactivate the vehicle immobilizer. The manager wanted the suspects to flee and ensure the children remained unharmed.
On Saturday morning, the five suspects entered the main house around 04:30, despite three security guards patrolling together with the farming community. The suspects armed with guns grabbed the manager pointing a gun to his head, and while four schoolgirls were sleeping in the house. The suspects knew the children had cell phones and tablets.
The suspects locked the manager and the girl’s in a room.
The suspects fled with electronic equipment, cash and a television set that they loaded into the vehicle.
After some time, the children and manager managed to raise an alarm and the community, police and emergency services responded.
Additional security was placed for the rest of the weekend to ensure the children were safe.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
