Within days of a Pretoria legal bookkeeper being robbed in the Pretoria CBD, a suspected street robber, who is allegedly part of a gang terrorising scores of early morning city motorists, has been nabbed.
The man was arrested after he was beaten by a mob of angry pedestrians following an attack on a businessman walking to work through the city centre.
Tuesday’s attack, which took place in Struben Street, is part of a string of attacks which on motorists and pedestrians going through the city centre to work.
The attack occurred after the businessman parked his car and started walking to his office.
It is believed that while the businessman was talking on his cellphone, the suspect, who is currently recovering in hospital, sneaked up and attacked him, fleeing with his phone.
Screaming for help, the businessman, together with some soldiers and a car dealer, gave chase.
Johan Rossouw, of Steyns Auto, said he had been in his office when he heard screams for help. “As I looked around, I saw a man screaming that he had been robbed and chasing after someone. The man was screaming for help. Two soldiers from the War College and I gave chase, running after a man who was fleeing from the man who had been robbed.
“By the time we caught up to the fleeing man, he had been punched and beaten to the ground by a group of pedestrians attacking him. It was total chaos with people screaming.
“The soldiers eventually managed to pull the man from the group, but by the time he was pulled to safety, he was bleeding badly and convulsing.
“I didn’t want them to beat the man, but I understand people’s anger. The crime and the number of attacks which happen in the city centre on a daily basis is crazy.
“It just never stops and the police do not seem to be able to do anything about it. When the police patrol in one place the criminals move elsewhere. That’s how it happens,” he said.
Police confirmed on Wednesday that the suspect had been taken to hospital. - Pretoria News