A Panorama family is grieving the loss of their 72-year-old father, Husain Mukadam, who was tragically murdered in a violent home invasion, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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Mukadam passed away early Tuesday morning after three unknown men broke into his home on President Brand Crescent around 1am. During the invasion, Mukadam was tied up and suffocated, while his wife, who was also restrained, survived the ordeal.
Mustafa Mukadam, the victim’s son, recounted the horrifying details, explaining, ‘The suspects entered through the backyard where there was an unsecured area. They jumped through three yards to get to his place.’
He added, ‘He wasn’t shot; what happened was that there was a major struggle.’ Mustafa described how his father’s arms and feet were bound with bed sheets, and something was placed in his mouth. Mukadam was found badly bruised and lying face down on the floor.
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Mustafa revealed that his mother managed to free herself after being tied up with zip ties.
‘My mom was also tied up with zip ties, she was also on the floor for five hours, waiting for me to come in,’ he said.
She did not call for help to avoid alerting the intruders to Mustafa’s presence. He believes his father’s actions during the struggle were heroic, saving his family from further harm.
‘I think my dad was a hero who knew I had three small children,’ Mustafa said. He found his parents at 7am, after his father, who regularly took the children to school, failed to arrive.
Mustafa noted that his father, who was paraplegic due to two hip replacements, was unable to defend himself effectively. ‘He couldn’t really fight anyone, he was an elderly man. My parents are pensioners,’ he said. The suspects stole a TV and a TV box, and Mustafa is still determining what else might be missing.
Reflecting on the crime, Mustafa said, ‘I don’t believe we were targeted but this was an opportunistic crime.’ He stressed the importance of securing one’s property, noting, ‘This shows that you have to protect your property at all times, especially from opportunistic guys.’
The family held Husain Mukadam’s janaazah, or funeral, yesterday before proceeding to Masjid al Tuba in Panorama.
Ward Councillor Cheryl Visser extended her condolences to the family and assured them, ‘I am working closely with the SAPS, PWP Neighbourhood Watch, and other relevant authorities to ensure that every possible resource is being utilised to bring those responsible to justice. The safety and security of our community remain a top priority, and I will continue to advocate for enhanced measures to protect our residents.’
Parow Community Policing Forum Chairperson Shakir Smith urged residents to be vigilant, stating, ‘Residents should always be prepared for something that might happen, so they should always lock their doors for their own security. But I believe this was just opportunists who did this.’
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed that the Parow officers are investigating both murder and house robbery.
‘According to reports, the victim and her family were asleep in their home when unknown suspects entered the premises and tied the victims up. The victims were found by a family member who untied them. A 72-year-old man was declared deceased by medical personnel on the scene. The cause of death forms part of the police investigation. The suspects fled the scene with a television set,’ Twigg said.
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