Durban - A Phoenix family of six were held up and pistol-whipped while celebrating a physically disabled relative’s 48th birthday on Friday night.
One moment the family, who did not want to be identified, were cutting the cake and the next they were on the floor being kicked and hit with the butt of a gun.
They were in their Aldergate Place home in Southgate when four men climbed over the side wall and entered the home.
The driveway gate was closed and only close family were in the house.
The homeowner, 68, was left with two black eyes and a swollen right hand. His wife, whose age is unknown, had stitches to her forehead and their disabled son received six stitches for a head wound.
“One of the robbers beat me up. He kicked me in the face. They hit us for no reason. They could have taken what they wanted but not beat us up. They took wrist watches, phones and a flat screen television. I am frustrated. What did I do to earn this? We work so hard for our possessions,” he said.
Security company KZN VIP Protection Services’ Glen Naidoo said the men sprayed tear gas at the neighbour’s dog.
“They assaulted the people in the house. The house was ransacked. We stabilised the victims before taking them to hospital. Three shots were fired at a neighbour when they were fleeing,” Naidoo said.
Daily News