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A senior South African MP, Ian Cameron, opened fire to fend off a violent gang attack on him and two colleagues during a work trip in Cape Town.
Cameron, along with fellow parliamentary police committee members Lisa Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell, was ambushed in Philippi township on Tuesday. Attackers hurled bricks at their vehicle, shattering windows and injuring Cameron and Gotsell. Cameron suffered broken teeth, while Gotsell was briefly hospitalised after being struck on the head.
In the chaos, Cameron drew his licensed firearm and shot one of the assailants, enabling the group to escape. Police confirmed that two teenagers, aged 16 and 18, have since been arrested on charges of attempted murder and attempted hijacking. One was caught after seeking hospital treatment for gunshot wounds, while another was arrested on a nearby farm. A third suspect remains at large.
Speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, Cameron—who chairs the parliamentary police committee—described how the attack unfolded shortly after they left an unannounced inspection at a police academy in Philippi.
“The first brick came through the driver’s side window and hit me in the face,” he recalled. “I realised that if we don’t act, this could end very badly. So I defended myself and my colleagues with my firearm, and we sped off to safety.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s second-largest party and part of the coalition government, condemned the incident, saying it highlights the country’s “out-of-control” crime crisis.
South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates, and violent crime remains a daily reality for many communities.
