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2008-01-12
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Indian Academy head TP Naidoo tells of family's ordeal at hands of armed robbers.

Easy target: Dr TP Naidoo and his wife, Mummy, were attacked by armed men in their driveway. Picture: Jackie Clausen

Prominent cultural leader Tholsiah "TP"Naidoo believes prayer saved him and his wife when they were terrorised by a gang of robbers in the driveway of their Chatsworth home this week.

Five armed men struck as Naidoo, head of the Indian Academy of South Africa, and his wife, Mummy, were returning from a memorial service with Raj Govender, the deputy director of arts and culture in KwaZulu-Natal.

A shaken Naidoo said: "I just prayed that we would be spared, and thankfully God answered my call for help.

"The gang took us by surprise. I'm usually very observant and on the lookout for criminal elements, especially with the high crime rate in our area. This time I didn't notice any suspicious people lurking around.

"It seems they were waiting for any easy target. Raj and my wife had got out of the car and I was waiting for assistance, because I walk with the aid of crutches, when they struck."

He said the men demanded wallets, cellphones and jewellery.

"They were waving their guns around, and we were afraid they were going to shoot us. My wife was panic-stricken. She tried to scream, but one of the robbers put his hand over her mouth and ordered her not to make a sound.

"One of them ripped her gold chain from her neck and also asked that she remove her bangles."

Another robber pointed a 9mm pistol at Naidoo and demanded his cellphone.

"He also insisted that I give him my rings, but I couldn't remove them . I heard the click of the gun, and I thought he was going to shoot me."

The robbers also snatched Govender's wedding ring, wallet and watch.

"They removed all the cash in his wallet and threw it at him. I was petrified, but I remained calm and prayed,"said Naidoo.

He said the robbery was "professionally executed".

"After they got what they wanted, they ran off and jumped into a car which was waiting for them down the road."

He said the Bayview police responded within minutes of the attack. "I was very impressed, because I have heard lots of stories of police tardiness."

Bayview police spokesman Inspector Colin Chetty said that according to the latest statistics, crime had stabilised in the area.

"There have been hijackings since the beginning of this month, but crime is actually down in the area compared with last year,"said Chetty.

He said Mobeni was a hotspot because of accessible routes in and out of the area.

"We are monitoring crime in Mobeni on a weekly basis and have been conducting regular stop-and-search operations."