A security guard on his way to work was brutally murdered for his cell phone this morning at the Avondale Station in Parow.
Danny Brink (53) and a friend, both from Parow, were waiting for the train to Bellville just after 05:00, when they were approached by four unknown men, who threatened them with knives and demanded their belongings.
“The friend released his property, a cell phone, watch and bag containing keys and food,” says Lieutenant Kevin Williams of the Parow police.
He says Brink refused and he was assaulted with a steel object and stabbed.
“When we arrived he was still alive, but had a gashing wound to his head,” Williams says. Brink was taken to Tygerberg Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.
According to a security guard at the station, night shift guards were on duty when the incident happened, but because the station building is being renovated, the lights aren’t working on the platforms.
“If you stand on the bridge (across the tracks) that time of the morning, you cannot see far,” he says.
Christel Schoeman, chairperson of the Fairfield Neighbourhood Watch, says she arrived at the station shortly after 06:00 because she commutes from this station daily.
“Many a morning there will be no security on duty. And with it being a building site, the security is not at all what it is supposed to be,” she says.
She says the watch has a constant battle with Metrorail about this, but gets no response from them.
“This is not a new issue, but what saddens me is that this incident will probably set them in motion. Why does someone have to get killed first?”
She says the neighbourhood watch is looking at practical ways to beef up security in the area with the help of the community.
The Fairfield Neighbourhood Watch, community policing forum (CPF) and police plan to meet at the station on Friday night in honour of the deceased.
“We want to demonstrate our solidarity as the local community and unite against these senseless acts of violence against innocent victims. Residents and other CPF affiliated member organisations are welcome to join,” the CPF posted on their Facebook page.
No-one has been arrested yet.
* Contact the Fairfield Estate neighbourhood watch at info.fairfieldestatenw@gmail.com or call Christel Schoeman on 074 631 5148.
PHOTO: Magriet Theron
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Update: Danny Brink (53)
Yvonne Brink Le Grange
RIP Danny. This is so sad our family are shocked and devastated of the loss of our brother. He was on his way to work. He was an panelbeater at an well known company and never did any harm to anyone. He will be sadly missed. Thanks to everyone for their phones calls and messages we appreciate it. Thanks to the medics and Tygerberg hospital.● https://m.facebook.com/boerekrisisaksie/photos/a.178568022169751.48293.116298045063416/1229018927124650/?type=1&source=48&fs=0
#MURDER
