The slaying of a well-known Cape Town restaurateur Ben Tuzee prompted authorities to warn social media users to be wary as they can become easy prey to “heartless criminals”.
Tuzee, 51, co-owner of Dixies Restaurant in Simon's Town, and his niece were on their way to deliver a television in Philippi which he had advertised on social media, when they were attacked.
According to authorities, the buyer of the TV had asked Tuzee to make the delivery at Msenge Street at around 10 am. When he arrived at the location, he and his niece were attacked by three suspects.
He was stabbed to death, while his niece survived the ordeal.
The suspects fled with Tuzee’s car, which was later recovered nearby. Nyanga detectives arrested three suspects, including a teenage boy, at Browns Farm.
Tuzee’s sister Debbie told Weekend Argus her brother was a gentle soul. “Just read (the) Facebook (messages) about the type of person my brother was,” she said.
Since Tuzee's murder, more victims have come forward.
Police believe that Tuzee's murder was not an isolated incident. They are aware of other instances where people used social media platforms to advertise items for sale and became victims of crime after they delivered the items to areas in the Nyanga vicinity, including Browns Farm and Crossroads.
Jacques Bruwer, 48, and his son, also named Jacques, 23, told Weekend Argus they were also attacked and robbed two weeks before Tuzee's death in the same vicinity.
Bruwer and his son were in their bakkie on their way to deliver braai stands they had put up for sale on social media. They were also ambushed in Browns Farm. The pair didn’t think they would see each other alive again.
Bruwer’s cheekbone was crushed after he was removed from the bakkie. A fearful Jacques watched as his father was pinned to the road by eight men.
Bruwer shouted for his son to drive away in the hope that he could escape. But Jacques sped towards the men who scattered and he managed to get his father into the bakkie and they drove off, leaving the braai stands behind.
"We are lucky to be alive, but as I have now discovered, another father was not so lucky," said Bruwer.
"It could just as well have been our names in media reports,“ Bruwer told Weekend Argus.
“I shudder to think who else could become victims if the police don’t act quickly."
Police spokesman Colonel Andre Traut said smooth criminals preyed on unsuspecting citizens who used social media to advertise items they wished to sell.
These criminals use their interest in an advertised item on platforms, such as Facebook Market Place, to bait people into a trap. Victims are then robbed, seriously injured or even killed.
Traut warned citizens to be vigilant when they do wanted to sell items. "This modus operandi can be avoided by instead meeting the potential buyer at a public place."
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said he was shocked at these crimes. The City, according to Hill-Lewis, would have been able to deal with such instances “much better” if the powers of the national police force were to be devolved.
Action Society’s Ian Cameron said the cyber crimes unit dealt with such crimes. “They actually have great technology they can use. I think the challenge is rather that they’re not big enough.”
Cameron said it was imperative for social media users to exercise caution.
Western Cape’s MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagan Allan said he was deeply saddened by the incidents.
“I’d like to encourage those that are utilising the cyberspace, regardless of the platform, to not only have online security through passwords and firewalls, but to always be extra careful when they physically have to meet people they initially met in cyberspace.”
He added: “Safety is always first our own responsibility and as the old adage goes, ‘one can never be to careful.’”
President of Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jacques Moolman said these latest incidents were a great concern and again underline the need to bolster crime fighting capacity.
“Criminals are developing new strategies and new targets, but many businesses and residents are largely defenceless in areas where police are spread too thin,” he said.
“The Tuzee murder and other cases highlights the need for a dedicated task force that can focus on particular categories of crime. Ideally, law enforcement should be one step ahead of criminals, not vice versa. However, we commend police for their speedy work in apprehending suspects in the Tuzee case.”
Weekend Argus.