A female tikkop from Hanover Park is behind bars after she allegedly choked a 79-year-old ouma until she was unconscious and then ransacked the pensioner’s flat.
The elderly woman, who asked not to be named, says she is still in shock after being choked and slammed onto the tiles of her council flat in Lugano Court.
She says when she regained consciousness, she was unable to call for help as the tikkop took out her cellphone’s battery.
The old lady says shortly after 8am on Wednesday, the young woman carrying a baby boy on her arm knocked on her door and asked for a bietjie water.
“I was alone at home when she came. She asked for water and when I turned around, she choked me from behind until I passed out and threw me on the floor,” the traumatised ouma says.
FOUND: Ouma’s belongings. Photo: Monique Duval
Neighbours say an hour later, they heard the ouma banging on her door from inside the flat and they ran to help.
They found the woman, who previously suffered a stroke, shaken and unable to walk.
Angry residents then marched to the home of the tikkop where they found her in possession of the ouma’s valuables, including appliances, bedding, silverware, shoes and even underwear.
Metro Police patrolling the area were stopped and informed about what happened and arrested the suspect and took her to Philippi SAPS.
RECOVERED: Silverware. Photo: Monique Duval
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut, confirms the incident and says at about 11.30am officers were informed by residents of the attack.
“Police proceeded to the house where they apprehended a 29-year-old female suspect and seized clothing, cutlery, groceries and an electric appliance outside of the house. We are investiga- ting a case of theft,” he says.
The tikkop will appear in Athlone Magistrates’ Court today on theft charges.
Photo: Monique Duval
The ouma says since the attack, she is experiencing pain in her neck.
“I have a thyroid problem and my neck is still sore. I must go back to the day hospital to complete the J88 form,” she says.
“I can’t believe she did something like that. I was just trying to get her water. I felt sorry for her because she has a baby.”