Councillor shot at in hijacking Mayco member survives hail of bullets in front of her home
IT WAS the safety of her children that ran through Suzette Little’s mind when she was shot at in front of her Penlyn Estate home during an attempted car hijacking. A bullet hole in her living room window, two holes in her curtains and chipped concrete where a bullet ricocheted were reminders of the traumatic events that could have cost Little her life.
By a “miracle”, the mother of three’s curtains stopped the bullets from harming her family, who were gathered in the living room at that time.
The mayco member for social development and early childhood development said the incident was not politically motivated.
Visibly shaken, Little, also the ward councillor for Athlone, said she returned home at 8.15pm on Tuesday attending a community meeting.
City of Cape Town VIP driver Nuur Perrin chauffeured the mayco member home when he was suddenly accosted by an armed assailant who pointed a gun to his head.
“As I got out of the car, these three guys ran across the road.
“When I saw this, I immediately knew they were up to no good and I screamed at the driver that they were coming.
“I was in such a panic that I could not tell him that they were going to hijack the car,” Little said.
The three armed men, dressed in dark clothing, had been waiting for her outside of her house, biding their time for an opportunity to strike, Little said.
When Perrin arrived in a cityissued white BMW, they seized the opportunity.
“When they got to the gate in the driveway, I heard them cock the gun,” she said.
The armed man dragged Perrin out of the car, which turned into a struggle as the courageous driver fought back.
The armed man eventually took control of the vehicle as Perrin dived across the lawn and landed on the porch.
“What they did not know was that Perrin was armed. So when he went for his gun, they started firing from inside the (stolen) car and Perrin returned fire.”
“There was a hail of bullets and I did what I was told to do in a situation like that – I just fell flat on the ground and took cover near another car,” Little said.
The BMW was riddled with bullets. Several shots to the windscreen, bonnet and left passenger front door could be seen, said police spokesman, Captain FC van Wyk.
The most traumatic thing for Little was that the armed criminals were waiting for her at her house.
“So many things were going through my mind. Every night when I get home, my children run to my front window to come and greet me. It was a routine and I was just screaming that they stay down and stay inside,” she said.
Police and the city’s internal Special Investigating Unit were combing through the crime scene late on Tuesday night. A case of attempted murder and attempted carjacking was opened with police.
“The city’s officer (Perrin) noticed three males running away in the direction of Belgravia Road, Lansdowne and disappeared.
“No one was injured during the incident and the suspects are still at large,” Van Wyk said.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said city official Craig Kesson was also a victim of armed robbery in his driveway recently.
“We are not sure whether the incidents are related. Mayco members come and go by themselves and are very exposed. Mayco members are just as vulnerable to crime,” he said.
City council speaker, Dirk Smit said the council will look to beef-up security around mayco members. “They should have bodyguards when visiting functions.”
Smit said the city would do a proper analysis of security options to determine if they fit into the city’s budget.
“Security for the city’s VIP protection unit is a very small amount from the budget compared with other cities.”