In a dramatic scene that unfolded on 15 May, Hatfield CID apprehended a suspect after a daring escape attempt at House Nala residence on campus.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspect jumped over the fence in Hilda Street in an attempt to evade the authorities. The suspect then ran past House Khutso and into the House Nala premises, where he was spotted by Carel Willemse – Head of the House Nala Residence – inside the security fence. Willemse quickly directed the Hatfield CID to the suspect’s whereabouts, and they apprehended him shortly thereafter. The suspect was found to be in possession of a knife.
“The Hatfield CID were brilliant in their response and ensured the situation was brought under control quickly,” Willemse told PDBY. According to the Hatfield CID’s incident report, the suspect was initially spotted by car guard Dumisani, who reported the suspect stealing wheel caps from parked vehicles in the street. Dumisani’s quick thinking and prompt reporting led to a swift response from the authorities.
Police arrived on the scene and took statements from Dumisani and other witnesses. The suspect was detained and arrested by Officer Samuel Bopape and Chris Mphela, with assistance from the K9 unit, Alpha 1 team, and backup responders.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and reporting suspicious activity on campus. Students and staff are encouraged to remain alert and report any suspicious individuals or behaviour to the campus security or authorities immediately. PDBY will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
