A British TikTok couple have fled South Africa after a violent brick attack and robbery in the country's capital left one of them bloodied and traumatised.
The incident occurred in Browns Farm, Philippi, a township in Cape Town, on Wednesday, 30th April.
Aqeela and Fariet Benjamin, both social media content creators, were travelling with family when their vehicle was attacked by a group of young assailants near the intersection of New Eisleben and Sheffield Roads.
The couple were on their way to Mitchell's Plain when traffic congestion diverted them through Nyanga and ultimately into Browns Farm, a known criminal hotspot.
Aqeela explained: "We were travelling with my mother-in-law and my 14-year-old niece. We got stuck in traffic.
"We saw people driving in through Nyanga, and we thought it would be a good idea to follow.
Picture shows injured Aqeela Benjamin, undated. They were robbed in Browns Farm, Philippi, South Africa. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
"We also wanted to dodge the traffic.
"When we got to the road works at New Eisleben and Sheffield Roads, there was a taxi in front of us, and behind was a Toyota Avanza, we were stuck. We couldn't go anywhere."
She added: "There were young boys who suddenly appeared and smashed the whole car with bricks.
"Glass was everywhere. One of them shouted, 'Give me your f**n phone.'
"Luckily, I left my other phone back in the UK, and the one I had slipped under my seat."
Picture shows stitches on Aqeela Benjamin's ear, undated. They were robbed in Browns Farm, Philippi, South Africa. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
The attackers made off with an iPhone Pro Max belonging to Fariet, her niece's iPhone 14, a power bank, and a portrait.
After fleeing the scene, the traumatised family went to report the case to the local police.
The couple say that after posting about the incident online, they were flooded with similar horror stories from locals.
The incident has reignited criticism from community leaders over the lack of law enforcement in Browns Farm and similar crime hotspots.
Dumisani Qwebe, secretary-general of the Nyanga Community Police Forum, urged unfamiliar drivers to avoid the New Eisleben, Govan Mbeki, and Sheffield Roads, routes which have seen a spike in robberies and assaults.
He added that recent infrastructure changes, including new informal taxi ranks along Sheffield Road, are further complicating traffic flow and exposing more motorists to danger.
Qwebe said: "Last week, there was another incident like this—the person was around Marcus Garvey at 9pm and she was assaulted."
(MJ Leidig/newsX)