A tragic incident on one of Cape Town’s busiest routes has renewed concerns over crime and safety along Jan van Riebeeck Road, Cape {town}Etc reports.
According to information shared by crime activist Yusuf Abramjee on X, a man died after allegedly pursuing suspects who had robbed him of his cellphone near the roadworks section between Parow and Elsies River.
Cape Argus reported that the deceased was a 57-year-old Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff member employed by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness. The incident is understood to have taken place near Van Riebeeck Drive and Epping Avenue in Elsies River.
A man has died after pursuing a group of smash-and-grab suspects who had stolen a cellphone on Jan van Riebeeck Road between Parow and Elsies River, Cape Town.
According to reports, the victim was attacked and robbed before giving chase to the suspects, during which he is…
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) June 18, 2026
Reports indicate that the victim was attacked and robbed before attempting to follow the group responsible. During the chase, he is believed to have suffered a fatal heart attack.
Further details published by Cape Argus revealed that the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness confirmed the employee had not been shot. The department added that the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation and that it is still being established whether any of his personal belongings were taken during the incident.
The incident has shocked residents and motorists who regularly travel through the area, which has seen repeated complaints about opportunistic crimes linked to congestion and ongoing roadworks.
Calls for stronger law enforcement
Ward councillor Emre Uygun has appealed to members of the public who have experienced robberies or attacks along Jan van Riebeeck Road to report these incidents to police and share their SAPS case numbers.
According to Uygun, the information will help support calls for increased law enforcement operations and stronger police visibility in the area.
He also extended condolences to the victim’s family and urged authorities to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, quoted by Cape Argus, condemned the attack and reiterated that violence against Emergency Medical Services personnel and patients is unacceptable.
The department said counselling services had been made available to staff members following the loss and extended its condolences to the employee’s family, loved ones and colleagues.
Speaking to Cape Argus, Western Cape MEC for Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger said EMS personnel work tirelessly to serve communities around the clock and should be able to perform their duties without fear of violence.
‘Our EMS personnel are dedicated public healthcare workers who serve communities around the clock, often under challenging and dangerous conditions, to save lives,‘ Wenger said.
Community concerns grow
The stretch of Jan van Riebeeck Road connecting Parow and Elsies River is a major commuter route used by thousands of motorists daily. Residents have previously raised concerns about criminals taking advantage of slow-moving traffic and construction-related bottlenecks.
News of the man’s death prompted an outpouring of sympathy on social media, with many users expressing frustration over rising street crime and calling for improved safety measures for road users.
Cape Argus also cited police spokesperson FC van Wyk, who said Elsies River police had registered an inquest following the incident, which occurred at about 2pm on Thursday in Leonsdale, Elsies River.
Van Wyk said no visible injuries were found on the man’s body and that a postmortem would determine the cause of death. Investigations are continuing, and no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information relating to the incident is urged to contact the investigating officer through Elsies River SAPS.
Police investigations are expected to continue.
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Picture: Jilbert Ebrahimi / Unsplash
