Warming the Bed
Hi All
Would like to give anyone intending on going to Fort Klapperkop a warning that it is no longer safe to do so.
The Mrs and I have been to Klapperkop a few times in the evenings, and I have been there quite a few times during the day as well, and always assumed it was reasonably safe, as there are lots of people, the SAPS are patrolling regularly, and there are cyclists riding up and down from early morning to late in the evening.
On 07 May 2015 I visited Klapperkop again during the day, to try and photograph aircraft practising for an airshow to be held at Zwartkops AFB. Aircraft were taking off at AFB Waterkloof, and were extremely low when they passed over Klapperkop.
After getting some good photographs I packed up, and drove back down in the direction of the R21.
At the Telkom Tower viewpoint there was a herd of Wildebeest right next to the road, and seeing another photo opportunity I stopped, got out the camera, and snapped a few shots.
Another man stopped, and asked if I was alright. When I told him I was taking photographs of the Wildebeest, he got out of his car, and took a couple of cellphone pics of them as well.
We were standing chatting while he was taking his photos, when we were suddenly approached by 3 men running towards us. When I noticed them, they were already a few metres away from us, and noticed that they pulled out knives when they were close. One of the men grabbed the man I was chatting with, and threw him to the ground. The other 2 approached me, and grabbed me by the collar, and also attempted to throw me to the ground. When they failed in that they started dragging me off to the bush, with one holding his knife to my throat, and the other giving me a shallow stab in the back.
The robbers proceeded to drag us into the bush, and demanded cellphones and wallets. They took my camera bag with the cameras, lenses and other goodies, watch, cellphone and wallet, as well as my pocket knife.
The person I was with lost his watch, wallet and an expensive pen, and they also ransacked his vehicle, taking a laptop, iPad and a bag of groceries.
Fortunately for us the men were more intent on getting our possessions than hurting us, and they left as soon as they had our goods in hand.
I managed to flag down some cyclists, and called the SAPS, who were on the scene within minutes.
The incident occurred at about 15:00 on a Thursday afternoon, in an area that is frequented by lots of people, and one would have thought it would be safe. Think again.
The feeling of having a knife stuck into your back, or thinking the worst while you are being led by 3 armed men into the bush, wasn't easy to go through, and I need to warn everyone that Klapperkop is not as safe as one might assume.
