PICTURES: DA MPs recount terrifying Philippi smash-and-grab attack

Three Democratic Alliance (DA) Members of Parliament responsible for police oversight narrowly escaped a violent smash-and-grab attack in Philippi on Tuesday afternoon.

Portfolio Committee on Police Chairperson Ian Cameron, together with colleagues Lisa Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell, were travelling near the intersection of New Eisleben and Govan Mbeki Roads when unknown suspects broke the windows of their vehicle and began throwing bricks at them.

Cameron described the attack as “horrific”.

He recounted: “They threw bricks at the vehicle. I managed to hit one of them, but they kept coming back. I tried fighting back, and when I looked at Nicholas, his body was on his lap. I took out my gun and shot. I am not sure if I hit anyone. The incident left me with broken teeth, and I had so much blood on my clothes.”

Gotsell was hospitalised but is not in critical condition, while Cameron sustained minor injuries. Schickerling escaped unharmed.

Cameron said he acted quickly and in self-defence to prevent further harm to his colleagues.

The DA condemned the attack and reiterated the urgent need for improved policing in high-crime areas.

DA Chief Whip George Michalakis said: “This incident is a portrayal of the out-of-control crime that South Africans face daily. No one is exempt from it. We again call on the Minister of Police to properly resource SAPS in crime-ridden areas such as Philippi.”

Michalakis praised the prompt response of the City of Cape Town Metro, the provincial government, police, and emergency medical services, highlighting that their quick intervention helped prevent further harm to the MPs.

Western Cape provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile confirmed that police received a report of the attack and that two people were injured.

“The ambulance was called at the scene. Our teams will get to the bottom of it,” he said.

“In most smash-and-grab incidents, the motive is robbery, hijacking, or theft out of a motor vehicle. At this stage, we do not know what was stolen.”

Community leaders condemned the attack.

Dumisani Qwebe called it a “wake-up call” and urged anyone with information to come forward. He noted that the area usually has police visibility and CCTV coverage, which may assist in identifying the suspects.

“That intersection was not so bad, and we are surprised because there is always police visibility, and now we must make sure that it is always monitored.

“There is a CCTV camera, and hopefully we will find something from it.”

The DA reiterated that policing is a national function and stressed that adequate resourcing of police stations in crime-ridden communities is vital to prevent similar incidents and ensure the safety of all South Africans.

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za