A sheikh has been shot and wounded while trying to catch skelms during a home invasion.
Father of two, Muhammed Baqir Madin, 24, was hit in the chest when seven boewe tried to break into his Rylands home in the early hours on Thursday.
The gunfire first grazed his father, Muhammad Zahid Butt, on the ribs and then wounded his son.
This was the third break-in at the property this week, on Tuesday at around 3am, a thief jumped over from their neighbour’s yard, gained entry and stole laptops.
The following day the same suspect went back to the house and took a jacket with money in it.
The skelms took advantage as the sheikh, who works at the Faizan-e-Madina Islamic centre in Gatesville, and his father were busy with the Moulood (birthday of the prophet Muhammad) celebrations.
Butt explains: “There were only women and children who were in the house but they didn’t hear anything.
“Our neighbours alerted us by showing us the footage of the guy, and we decided to wait for him after we learned his pattern.
“The night of the shooting, my son came and told me that the burglar had arrived and we went outside and we found three of them.
“We managed to catch them but we didn’t realise that there were four others and they were armed.
“One shot at us and the bullet grazed me and then shot my son.”
The shocked dad says that three more shots went off, which only hit the garage doors.
“My son was rushed to Melomed and then he was transferred to Groote Schuur Hospital where he was expected to be operated on,” adds the dad.
“We can only hope for the best from the operation.”
SAPS’ Wesley Twigg says Athlone police is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“It is believed that in the early hours of [yesterday morning], two males were shot and wounded in Doring Street, Rylands,” he says.
“According to reports, suspects entered the residence and threatened the victims and took three cellular phones and stock.
“The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.
Cases of attempted murder and house robbery were opened for investigation.
“Anyone with any information can contact Athlone SAPS on 021 697 9238/39 or 08600 10111.”