Upper Highway robberies update

In March this year I brought you the horrific accounts of violent house robberies in the Upper Highway Area.

 

At the time it was believed that gangs fuelled by a drug called Whoonga were breaking into homes in the area, stealing valuables and also attacking the residents. Each account was the same – the same modus operandi, the same property being stolen and the same senseless attacks… 

 

The problem got so bad that SAPS deployed a special task team to the area to tackle this scourge. It seemed to work as the number of violent house break-ins in the area dwindled. And arrests were made. 

 

However, the crime spree spread to other parts of the city and took the focus off the Upper Highway Area. Seven months down the line – has anything significant actually happened? 

  

Ryan Sutherland from Hillcrest was enjoying a dinner party at his home with a few friends when brazen robbers entered his property, crawled along the edge and eventually entered his home stealing valuables. But not before brutally stabbing him and his friend…  

 

The entire incident was caught on Ryan’s CCTV cameras and the footage made headlines across the country. I take up Ryan’s story from when he handed the footage over to the police:

 

  

Thulani Zwane, spokesperson for SAPS, says the situation is under control. But is he deluded? 

  

A local journalist reported that Ryan Sutherland’s case was thrown out of court on a technicality. This is NOT the case says the National Prosecuting Authority. Below is their response, in full, to my query:

 

Dear Mr Pillay 

  

Kindly take note that your information to the effect that the case was "thrown out of court"is incorrect. On the contrary the matter is still very much on the roll and the accused are expected to appear at court on the 3rd of of December 2013. On the 23rd of October 2013 the presiding officer postponed the case to the aforesaid date for further investigations.  

  

Kind regards 

Nathi Mncube