5 in dock over Signal Hill attacks

Cape Town - An Australian woman and a Canadian man who were attacked in two separate incidents on Signal Hill this month were allegedly the victims of five Philippi men posing as hikers, the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court heard on Monday.

The men, who included three teenagers, have been charged with aggravated robbery, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.

Ndowose Jakhiwo, 22, and Lunta Mluma, 19, appeared in court on Monday while the minors, whose identities were being withheld, appeared separately in the juvenile court.

In the first incident, on December 15, the men allegedly accosted an Australian woman who was walking on the footpath on Lion’s Head. She was stabbed five times in the chest and hand. Her assailants made off with her camera, cellphone, cash and credit cards.

Four days later, a Canadian tourist walking in the same area was also attacked and bound with duct tape. The muggers stole his iPod, cellphone, wallet and camera.

Warrant Officer John Baker and Table Mountain National Parks ranger Thandisizwe Mbolompo arrested the suspects on Friday after they were allegedly found in possession of the duct tape used to tie up the Canadian tourist.

“Cape Town Central worked through the night to follow up information and arrested another suspect at his house in Browns Farm, Philippi, and also found international bank cards that belonged to one of the (visitors) hidden underneath his mattress,” said Western Cape police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk.

Prosecutor Ebrahim Adams told the court that the State was not in possession of the criminal profile of the men and asked that the case be postponed for a week to obtain the information.

The group are due back in court on Monday.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus