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21 hours ago
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Police Portfolio Committee chairperson Ian Cameron and two colleagues were attacked in Philippi on Tuesday.
- Three DA MPs were attacked after returning from an oversight visit to the Philippi police training academy on Tuesday afternoon.
- Ian Cameron, Nicholas Gotsell and Lisa-Maré Schickerling were inside their vehicle when three men smashed their windows with bricks.
- Police are investigating attempted murder and attempted hijacking cases, and have a suspect under police guard in hospital.
Parliament’s Police Portfolio Committee chairperson Ian Cameron and his team fell victim to an attempted hijacking on the corner of Eisleben and Govan Mbeki roads in Cape Town on Tuesday afternoon.
Cameron and his colleagues, Nicholas Gotsell and Lisa-Maré Schickerling, were in one car when three unknown men attacked their vehicle with bricks, smashing at least three windows.
Cameron said he and his team had just wrapped up an “unannounced visit” at the Philippi police training academy, and when they left the area to drop off a colleague at Cape Town International Airport, their vehicle was attacked.
“Traffic was piling up, and my colleague, Lisa, said something doesn’t feel lekker to her. Next thing we knew, people were breaking our windows,” he added, saying he drove away from their attackers to a nearby petrol station.
Nothing was taken from the vehicle.
Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile said a suspect, 18, had yet to be charged as he was under police guard at a hospital in Mitchells Plain.
“We are positive that he is linked to the crime against the three DA members,” he added.
Police were looking for two other suspects.
READ | Three known hijackers killed in shootout with police in Philippi
According to Cameron, Gotsell had to be hospitalised following the incident; however, he and Schickerling managed to escape without serious injuries.
“It was only when I was done filing a police statement that I noticed some bloodstains on my lip and chin and realised I had some minor injuries to my hand and face.”
He added he “may have lost a tooth” as the impact of the brick smashing the driver’s side window was “forceful”.
“I will need to get some medical attention just to make sure everything is fine. I feel fine, just a bit shaken. Lisa is fine as well.
“Nicholas may have been more severely injured as he needed to be hospitalised, but I will check on him shortly,” Cameron told News24.
Recalling the attack, he said bricks smashed the vehicle’s windows.
He said:
There was a lot of screaming. Lisa told me to drive and get us out of the area. Everything was too much in that moment, but we are incredibly grateful to have escaped without serious injuries.
“This is what people of South Africa face daily. Crime is out of control, and unfortunately, no one is spared,” added Cameron.
He said that shortly after the police took their statements, he went back to the scene with the cops to point out exactly where the incident occurred.
Schickerling added she was happy they managed to get out of the area “before things got worse”.
“We will be fine, it’s been a very hectic day, and I think we just need to process what actually happened, but I’m grateful we are safe and sound,” she said.
The DA’s chief whip in Parliament, George Michalakis, condemned the attack.
Michalakis said:
This incident is a portrayal of the out-of-control crime that South Africans face daily, and no one is exempt from it.
“The DA has long called on successive ANC ministers to ensure that policing in areas such as Philippi received priority, and we will continue to do so. Policing is a national function,” said Michalakis.
He thanked the police, City of Cape Town, provincial government, and the medical response team for their quick and effective aid to the trio.
“We trust that law enforcement will bring the perpetrators to account, but we again call on the minister of police to urgently ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to areas that are riddled with criminal activities to prevent such incidents and future loss of life,” said Michalakis.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said presiding officers “condemned in the strongest possible terms the violent criminal attack on the three DA members”.
“The presiding officers express deep concern, noting that such shocking acts of criminality not only endanger the lives of elected representatives and members of the public but also undermine Parliament’s constitutional duty to hold organs of state accountable through oversight,” added Mothapo.
Parliament conveyed its wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the affected members.
“Law enforcement authorities are called upon to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice,” said Mothapo.
Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk added the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit was investigating a case of attempted murder and attempted hijacking.
“Preliminary reports suggest they both suffered injuries to the face and head. Investigations continue, and no arrest has been made as yet,” said Van Wyk.
Anyone with information about this incident can contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect further information from police and additional comment.
