A family trip ended in tragedy last Friday when 64-year-old Karin van Aardt was fatally stabbed in a smash-and-grab attack shortly after landing at Cape Town International Airport, Cape {town} Etc reported.
There are renewed calls for improved safety, particularly on airport routes.
Police have opened a murder case and say the assailant fled on foot after smashing the car window and attempting to grab the victim’s handbag.
The victim, a retired primary schoolteacher who lived in Mbombela, has prompted public outrage and renewed political pressure for stronger protection of motorists on routes around the airport, TimesLIVE reported.
The FF Plus urged urgent action, calling for repaired fencing, working CCTV and permanent armed patrols at high-risk intersections. ‘Action and prevention are not optional, they are absolutely crucial,’ the party said in a statement.
City leaders point to a recent deployment of 40 metro police officers dedicated to patrolling the N2, the airport approach and neighbouring precincts, but residents say more must be done to stop opportunistic attacks.
Van Aardt’s brother-in-law said the couple had messaged that they arrived safely before the attack. ‘She was just a grandmother who wanted to celebrate her only grandchild’s birthday,’ he said, describing the family’s devastation.
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Grandmother stabbed to death minutes after landing in Cape Town
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