Cape Town family recounts N2 smash-and-grab horror as city plans security wall

As the City of Cape Town is pushing through plans for a R180 million security wall along the N2 and around the airport to protect motorists, a mother and her 11-year-old son became the latest victims of a smash-and-grab.

This follows the killing of Nelspruit grandmother Karin van Aardt in a smash-and-grab ambush earlier this month.

What was meant to be a routine trip, ended in trauma for the mother and son after they were robbed while stranded on the N2 due to a flat tyre.

Masroefa Kassen told the Cape Argus' sister publication, the Daily Voice that she was taking her son to his father for the holidays and used the Airport Approach Road, however a flat tyre forced her to pull over onto Borcherds Quarry Road on December 13 around 1pm.

Then a bare-chested suspect stole Kassen’s purse and her son’s bag with his clothing in it, while they were stuck alongside the road.

She explained: “The suspect was a single individual, he was actually bare chested, he didn’t have a t-shirt on, but it was like they were sitting and waiting there.

“The highway patrol officers that came onto the scene told me that the day before the exact same thing happened and that motorists’ window was still lying there where I had stopped.”

The mom and her son were assisted by a good Samaritan named Brian Adonis from Athlone who helped them to change the tyre and took her to Nyanga police station to register a case along with patrol officers who arrived thereafter.

Kassen added that given that the incident happened so quickly, she would not be able to assist with identifying the suspect and that the case had been closed.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the incident and said that a theft out of motor vehicle case was registered at Nyanga police station.

Twigg reported: “According to reports the victim had a flat tyre on Borcherds Quarry Road, on December 13, when she was approached by an unknown suspect who robbed them of their personal belongings before fleeing the scene. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and arrests are yet to be made.”

Freedom Front Plus Councillor Emre Uygun said that the party condemns the attack and that this particular stretch on the N2 has become a notorious hotspot for robberies and assaults.

Uygun said: “Despite issuing monthly press releases highlighting the danger, attacks are ongoing. The VF PLUS therefore strongly condemns the ongoing attacks against our road users and calls for permanent armed patrols to be stationed at this particular location on the N2.

“The VF PLUS urges all motorists who have been attacked on the N2/R300 to report the incidents to SAPS immediately.”

In a statement at the weekend, the City said a security wall is being planned: "The City is planning for a security wall along the N2 around the airport to be erected. This will come at a significant cost estimated at around R180m, but the City is committed to ensuring it is done.

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