Evil skelms dressed in Muslim tops and fezzes carried out a daring hijacking while people were making Ramadaan salaah at a Cape Flats mosque.
But they didn’t get very far as wakker neighbourhood watch members caught up to them.
Police say one dief was caught and arrested, and one is still at large.
The drama unfolded outside the Waterloo Road Masjid on the corner of Waterloo Road and Blanken Street in Kenwyn, just after 8.30pm on Monday.
Neighbours and worshippers who asked not to be identified say the victim had been making taraweeg salaah, but left the mosque before it ended to attend to a private matter when he was ambushed by three gunmen.
A member of Waterloo mosque explains: “It was around 8.30pm and we were still inside the mosque and heard a commotion outside.
“We also heard screaming. The man attends our mosque regularly.”
The robbers took his silver Hyundai Tucson SUV and wallet with an undisclosed amount of money in it.
The hijackers’ joyride came to an end along Joanne and Wetton Road when community members cornered them.
They abandoned the car but one of them was caught by residents who moered him dik before cops arrived on the scene.
RAPID RESPONSE: Cops and residents on the scene. CREDIT: Leon Knipe
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirmed the incident. "On 29 May at 20.30pm, the 33-year-old complainant was seated in his car (Hyundai) in Blanken Road Kenwyn, Lansdowne," explains Van Wyk,
"Two unidentified males approached him and one pointed a firearm at him. He was robbed of his wallet and cellphone and the suspects drove off with his vehicle.
"The neighbourhood watch members reacted and followed the vehicle which the suspects abandoned in Rifle Road, Kenwyn, and split in different directions on foot. One of the suspects was apprehended at corner of Joanne and Wetton Roads and he fired one shot at the neighbourhood watch member but missed. He was then arrested but he managed to throw away the firearm.
"He was found in possession of a magazine containing 8x9mm rounds. The Hyuandai ignition key was also found near to him.
"The suspect was pointed out on the scene by the complainant. The other suspect is still on the run. Nobody sustained injuries during the incident."
Yesterday, images of the bruised and handcuffed man in the back of a police van went viral on social media.
It is believed his accomplice made a run for Hanover Park after jumping over the wall of a business. He also opened fire on a neighbourhood watch member but he was not injured.
A neighbourhood watch member who was at the scene says the victim was armed but the robbers did not take his gun.
He said the men were dressed in tops (Muslim attire) and fezzes.
“The man’s wallet was taken with an undisclosed amount of money in it,” he says.
He says they received information that the skelms had earlier tried to steal another car at a nearby mosque in Taronga Road, Crawford, but failed.
He says it now appears the skelms were targeting Muslims at mosques during the pwasa.
“There should be an alert out sent out to people.
“We urge residents to support their neighbourhood watch, we help to keep the streets safe.”
Van Wyk says the 33-year-old suspect faces charges of carjacking and attempted murder and is expected to appear in Wynberg Magistrates' Court on 1 June.