A first-year Stellenbosch University student was robbed at gunpoint at the De Eike complex at 20:47 on 27 March. VIDEO: supplied/Francois Roos
No arrests have been made yet following a robbery at gunpoint at an apartment complex in Stellenbosch earlier this week. This was according to Captain Nathalie Martin, spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Stellenbosch.
The victim, first-year student at Stellenbosch University (SU) Kristiyan Armenchev, told MatieMedia that he was robbed at 20:47 on 27 March, as he entered his apartment complex. Armenchev lives in the De Eike complex in Stellenbosch.
The De Eike complex in Stellenbosch has a gate with an alarm and an electric fence, along with cameras that are constantly recording, explained Francois Roos, a resident at the complex. PHOTO: Amy Cloete
Armenchev was walking home on the night of the robbery after having written an accounting test. He was alerted to an individual running up behind him after he had entered his complex, said Armenchev.
“I turned around and he was pointing a gun at my head,” said Armenchev. In that moment, he didn’t know what was happening, and was in shock, he told MatieMedia.
The perpetrator appeared to be “jittery and not quite there”, according to Armenchev. His main concern was that the perpetrator was not stable, said Armenchev. He then handed over his phone and raised his hands, after which the perpetrator left.
Hot pursuit
Armenchev called out for help, and three other residents from the complex ran out to assist. They chased the perpetrator to the railway tracks but he jumped a fence and disappeared into the surrounding bushes, explained Armenchev.
“I heard a lot of screaming”, but the perpetrator was already outside of the gate, said Francois Roos, another resident at De Eike. Roos was able to access camera footage and saw that the perpetrator had waved around what “looked like a handgun”.
Kristiyan Armenchev, the victim of a recent armed robbery, explains when he realised he was being robbed after entering his complex on the evening of 27 March. AUDIO: Supplied/Kristiyan Armenchev
Safety concerns
“This is the first time something this extreme has happened here since [I] moved in [in January 2022],” stated Roos.
He explained that he has been concerned about the security before, but he does not think much can be done other than “light up the streets more and be more vigilant when you are out alone at night”.
Martin confirmed that a case had been opened at SAPS Stellenbosch.