During the early hours of Friday, an elderly couple who live at the exclusive Sardinia Bay Golf & Wildlife Estate were targeted in their home for a second time in 2025 — but this time the robbers went on a violent rampage, attacking them with a panga and a wooden plank.
Tac Net Armed Response and Security Services owner Abri Pienaar said the couple’s lives may have been saved by the quick response of the company’s security guards stationed at the front gate.
“They responded from the gate to the house within four minutes. We think that possibly saved their lives,” he said.
Within hours on Friday, the police made an arrest.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said the break-in occurred at about 3am.
He said the 68-year-old woman and her 73-year-old husband were assaulted with a panga and a wooden plank after being woken up by two intruders who demanded valuables.
Beetge said the intruders stole a cellphone, and when the alarm was raised, they fled.
“Walmer detectives then traced and arrested one suspect in Bethlehem Street, Walmer Township.
“The stolen cellphone was also recovered [allegedly] in his possession.
“The 37-year-old suspect faces charges of housebreaking and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
“Police are continuing investigations to track down the second suspect,” Beetge said.
The couple were rushed to hospital with serious head injuries.
When The Herald arrived at the estate on Friday afternoon, the reporter and photographer were denied entry and asked to instead contact Tac Net for further information.
Pienaar said it was the second robbery at the couple’s home this year.
“The house was first hit on January 30. This time, we suspect the accused gained entry either by going under the fence, or over the fence.
“While there was no damage to the electric fence, the fence alarm was triggered.
“Shortly thereafter, the home alarm was also triggered.”
Pienaar said the suspects gained access to the house through the upstairs balcony — the same modus operandi as the previous time.
The alarm was not armed on the top floor at the time.
“They only managed to take a cellphone and some money out of a wallet,” Pienaar said.
He said when his security staff arrived at the scene, the husband’s face was swollen.
He had been struck several times with the panga or wooden plank.
His wife, whose visible injuries were slightly less serious, told the response team the perpetrators had been particularly violent.
Pienaar said the couple’s daughter later contacted him, saying the family had managed to trace the cellphone to Walmer location.
The security company and the police then followed up on the information.
Pienaar said when they got close to the cellphone’s signal location, they asked the daughter to “ping” the phone, and it went off in the suspect’s possession.
“That is how we caught him,” he said.
Nelson Mandela Bay district commissioner Major-General Vuyisile Ncata commended the swift action of the police and the other role players in effecting the arrest.
Ncata emphasised the importance of protecting the elderly and vulnerable.
“We need to protect our elderly, and acts like these against vulnerable people will be prioritised,” he said.
The arrested suspect is expected to appear in court soon.
The Herald
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