A dramatic attack on three South African lawmakers got violent on Tuesday, when Ian Cameron, a senior Member of Parliament, opened fire to defend himself and his colleagues after their vehicle was attacked in Philippi.
- Three South African lawmakers were attacked in Philippi in a violent ambush.
- Ian Cameron, an MP, fired his licensed firearm in self-defense, injuring one assailant.
- Two attackers, aged 16 and 18, were arrested, with police seeking a third suspect.
Cameron, who leads parliament’s police committee, was returning from an oversight visit to a police school with colleagues Lisa Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell when their car was targeted.
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According to authorities, intruders threw bricks at the car, smashing the glass and injuring Cameron and Gotsell.
“The first brick came through the window,” on the driver’s side, Cameron told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, speaking with visible facial injuries.
As seen on the BBC, the South African parliamentary member revealed that several of his teeth had been broken in the attack.
While struggling to fend off the assailants, he discharged his licensed firearm, injuring one of the attackers.
“I realised that if we don’t do something, then this can go really bad. So I did my best to act in self-defence with my firearm and then we sped off to the closest secure location,” Ian added.
Police reported that two individuals, ages 16 and 18, were detained on attempted murder and hijacking charges.
One was detained at a hospital while seeking treatment for gunshot wounds, while the other was caught on a farm the next morning. Authorities said they are still looking for a third suspect.
Gotsell, who was hit in the head during the incident, was briefly hospitalised but has since been released.
He revealed that the actions of his colleague were brazen, as Cameron “acted with such bravery.” Schickerling escaped without serious injury.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s second-largest political party and a crucial partner in the coalition government, denounced the incident, calling it fresh proof of the country’s increasing crime issue.
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This awful event demonstrates how out of control crime has grown in South Africa, according to a statement by the party.
The ambush underlines both the dangers that public officials confront and the larger issue of violent crime in South Africa.
