Cape Town - Getting stuck on the R300 nearly cost a young father and his family their lives.
Aneez Jacobs, who was travelling with his 19-year-old wife and six-month-old baby, said he ran out of petrol on the notorious highway near Delft, before three knife-wielding men robbed him.
The 20-year-old father says he is also angry at the authorities - he claims he tried to flag down three police vans as well as a Metro police vehicle, who all ignored his calls for help.
Upset
“They don’t care. What do we pay tax money for?” he asked.
The family from Belhar was en route to visit Jacobs’ parents in Strandfontein on Monday night. Just after 6pm, his Volkswagen Golf ran out of petrol, and he called a friend to come and assist.
He said 20 minutes into the wait, while they were trying to flag somebody down to help, three men approached them.
“I told my wife to get in the car and I rolled it back off the N2 flyover bridge, but they followed us. I had my wife lock herself in the car as one guy came across the road,” he said.
“The guy asked me if I knew how dangerous it was to get stuck there, whether I’ve called the police and if somebody was on their way to help us
Jacobs said he answered the man truthfully and didn’t suspect any danger.
Threatened
The trio returned and threatened Jacobs with a knife.
“I told my wife to take the baby and run. She ran into oncoming traffic, trying to get help,” he said.
Meanwhile, he was fighting off the knife-wielding thug.
“He kept on stabbing at me, while the other two watched. I think this guy was being initiated into a gang. I had already gotten the wheel brace and started hitting him when I realised he wanted to go after my wife.”
Fortunately Jacobs wasn’t injured - and he managed to keep the attacker away from his family - but his jacket has six stab holes.
“We would fight and then he would run after her again. Nobody stopped to help us. What is the world coming to?” he asked.
He said the gang ran away after the thug managed to grab his wallet.
“My wife and child could have been killed and everyone on that road would have been as responsible as the officers who drove past us.”
Faith
Asked if he’d laid a charge with police, he said: “How can they help me now? They just drove on, no matter how much I waved. I have no faith in the police.”
Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said law enforcement officers had a duty to help stranded motorists requiring assistance.
“If this was not done in this case, residents are encouraged to please report the matter to the City so that we can investigate and action can be taken.”
Stranded motorists are urged to call 107 or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone, or on Twitter @pecc107 .
SAPS didn’t respond to queries.
Daily Voice