Ian Cameron, DA MPs injured in brutal ‘targeted' attack
Police Portfolio Committee Chairperson Ian Cameron has recounted a horrific smash and grab he experienced alongside two fellow Democratic Alliance (DA) MPs in Cape Town's Philippi township.
The trio – which includes Lisa Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell – were ambushed after visiting a nearby SAPS training academy.
IAN CAMERON AND OTHER DA MPS INJURED IN CAPE TOWN SMASH AND GRAB
On Tuesday, 19 August, Ian Cameron and fellow DA MPs Lisa Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell escaped a smash-and-grab after conducting official duties.
ADVERTISEMENT
The trio were returning from a surprise inspection of the SAPS Philippi Training Academy when their vehicle was ambushed. A group of unknown suspects broke the window of their car with bricks and brutally assaulted Cameron and his colleagues.
The quick-thinking Police Portfolio Committee Chairperson retaliated with his own firearm, firing shots at the suspects.
A bloodied Cameron suffered broken teeth and required facial stitches. His colleagues sustained minor head and neck injuries.
Ian Cameron believes that it was a targeted attack on himself.
He posted on his X account: 'This was a serious and deliberate attack, and it underscores the risks faced during oversight work. But incidents like this will not deter us. We remain determined to carry out our responsibility to ensure accountability and safety.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to authorities, the motive for the attack is not yet known.
'OUT OF CONTROL CRIME'
The DA condemned the attack, calling on police to increase their presence in high-crime areas.
The party's Chief Whip, George Michalakis, told IOL: 'This incident is a portrayal of the out-of-control crime that South Africans face daily. No one is exempt from it.
'We again call on the Minister of Police to properly resource SAPS in crime-ridden areas such as Philippi.'
Ian Cameron is lucky to be alive after a horrific smash and grab. Image via X: @iancameron23
Parliament also denounced the criminal attack.
'The Presiding Officers express deep concern, noting that such shocking acts of criminality not only endanger the lives of elected representatives and members of the public but also undermine Parliament's constitutional duty to hold organs of state accountable through oversight', read its statement.
HELEN ZILLE'S NARROW ESCAPE
Ian Cameron isn't the only DA member to fall victim to a brutal attack.
In 2003, Helen Zille narrowly escaped death when her Corsa was shot at in an attempted hijacking in Khayelitsha. At the time of the attack, Helen was driving home one evening after doing constituency work in the informal settlement.
The bullet struck the back of her car seat, with Helen claiming that the springs of the cushion likely shielded her.
DO YOU THINK IAN CAMERON'S SMASH AND GRAB WAS A RANDOM OR TARGETED ATTACK?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
29 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
Song teaching kids to say ‘no' to inappropriate touching goes viral
'These are my private parts, private parts, private parts, these are my private parts, no-one should touch them, no-one should see them,' they sing. 'And if you touch my private parts, private parts, I will tell my mother, I will tell my father, I will tell my teacher.' In a separate video, Waterboer explained why teaching children about sexual safety is crucial. 'There is a great need for awareness that needs to be spread about the safety of children. I wish I had a teacher such as me growing up. I wish I had a teacher who would tell me it is to say 'no' to people you also trust,' she said. 'You have the right over your body. I take this personally because I wish I knew that growing up. Some matters need to be addressed with seriousness. They need to know the value in their 'no'. 'As Africans we take such topics as taboo. We put it under the table, it's not something we discuss with children, and that makes African children fearful of speaking up. Even telling their parents can feel impossible.' Waterboer said her mission is personal. 'For me, as long as I am a teacher, I have vowed that I will be the teacher I never had and needed when I was growing up. I will be the teacher that provides protection for these children and helps them reach their highest potential.' Some social media users commented on her 'aggressive' style of singing the song — to which Waterboer responded that this is a serious matter that needs urgent attention. 'Excuse me if I was aggressive, because yes, it is personal for me. Some things need to be loud. Some things need to be aggressive. It is not a funny thing. A young child is going through something every second, every day, every hour. For us to take it seriously they will also start taking it seriously. They will know there is power in my 'no'. They will know I have the right to say 'no'.' In South Africa last year, the DA revealed shocking statistics that showed more than 106,000 rape cases and 22,000 sexual assault cases involving children were reported over the past six financial years. Rape accounted for 38.3% of crimes against children nationwide in 2022/2023.
The South African
29 minutes ago
- The South African
Netflix reveals Dr Nandipha Magudumana's fall in true crime series
Dr Nandipha Magudumana, once admired as a successful celebrity doctor and businesswoman, is now at the centre of a scandal gripping the nation. Netflix's new true crime documentary series, Beauty And The Bester , set to premiere on 12 September. It exposes her tumultuous and ill-fated relationship with convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester. The three-part series chronicles how Dr Magudumana's seemingly perfect life unraveled following her connection to Bester, according to Netflix. Bester infamously escaped from Mangaung Maximum Security Prison in 2022 by faking his death in a cell fire. The documentary traces events from staged celebrity conferences and extravagant lifestyles to a viral photo of the pair shopping together in Sandton City. The photo is what triggered a massive manhunt. Thabo Bester, known as the 'Facebook Rapist' for luring victims online, fled for nearly a year before authorities arrested him in Tanzania in April 2023. Police arrested him alongside Dr Magudumana, his accomplice and partner in the eyes of the law. They extradited both back to South Africa in handcuffs, sparking widespread shock and disbelief. Courtroom footage and exclusive investigative material reveal the bizarre bond between a respected doctor and one of South Africa's most notorious criminals. Friends and family will also share their bewilderment and sorrow in interviews. They struggle to comprehend how Dr Magudumana, a married mother of two who reportedly deserted her family, became entangled in Bester's web of deceit. Police reports and court evidence suggest that Dr Magudumana willingly eloped with Bester. She abandoned her children and legal husband. Lt Colonel Tieho Flyman. Flyman is an investigating officer, described her as a willing partner who rejected claims of being kidnapped or threatened. 'She chose to be with Bester,' he said, emphasising her complicity in the escape plan. The documentary also sheds light on the couple's fraudulent business dealings, including a scam property company. They first met in 2006 in the corridors of the University of the Witwatersrand. From there, their story unfolded dramatically. Their arrest abroad shocked many. Beauty And The Bester promises to reveal a story of manipulation. It is a story of a love turned sour, and corruption, one that has left South Africa questioning how such a dark chapter unfolded beneath their eyes. Beauty And The Bester will resonate strongly with South Africans still grappling with the repercussions of this real-life thriller that unraveled their sense of security and justice. DO YOU BELIEVE LOVE OR MANIPULATION PLAYED A BIGGER ROLE IN THIS STORY? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
29 minutes ago
- The South African
Gareth Cliff scores SA government 'ZERO out of 5'
In a scathing analysis of the South African government's track record, radio and television personality Gareth Cliff has given the state a damning 'zero out of five' score across five critical service areas. Those areas are: Security, infrastructure, the economy, education, and health. Citing rampant crime, Eskom's failures, a sinking GDP, and poor literacy rates, Cliff delivers a 'zero out of five' verdict in his Truth Report video. He concludes that the government is failing to provide the basic services expected of it and questions what taxpayers are truly paying for. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
