Durban - A Verulam family will face the daunting task on Wednesday of trying to identify the men who beat them up and covered them with a blanket during a home robbery on Christmas Day.
Three men were arrested in Russom Street, Verulam, by a local security company on Sunday in connection with the robbery.
The family will attend an identification parade at the Verulam police station.
It was a Christmas that Jude Govender, 28, and his family will never forget.
Speaking to the Daily News on Monday, Govender recalled how his family were laughing and joking one moment and crying and screaming the next.
He said he was at his aunt’s home in Temple Valley when three men with guns stormed the house. Two of them pushed the family around and slapped Govender, demanding jewellery and cash. The other ransacked the house.
“They used cords from a speaker to tie our hands up. They bundled us together and pushed us into one of the rooms. We were terrified. They placed a blanket over our heads and locked us in. They loaded clothes, appliances and jewellery into my VW Velociti and fled,” Govender said.
Police spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane confirmed the incident.
Govender’s car was recovered in Ndwedwe an hour later.
Govender said it was alleged that one of the suspects had been seen wearing his shoes and another had been wearing his counsin’s track pants. The third suspect was alleged to have been wearing his counsin’s wedding ring
.
“It will be painful, especially for my aunt, to face them again. My aunt is still recovering from the trauma of the robbery.”
Security company Reaction Unit South Africa spokesman Prem Balram said they had made the arrests after a tip-off.
The men allegedly ran in different directions when they saw the guards, who ran after them.
Balram said all three suspects were from uMlazi, and he believed they were in Verulam to plan another robbery.
Zwane confirmed the three suspects, aged 27 and 28, were arrested by the security guards.
“At this stage the suspects have not been linked to any other cases pending investigation. They will appear in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court today on charges of house robbery.”
Daily News