Louis Fourie Road crime: Cyclist latest victim

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - "This time, I stood up and walked away from the scene but the next person might not be so lucky."

This is what Mossel Bay cyclist, Ockert Maritz, told Mossel Bay Advertiser about being attacked and robbed in Louis Fourie Road on Saturday morning, 8 February.

Maritz was cycling along Louis Fourie Road, in the area between Dias and De Bakke at about 08:15, when two men accosted him.

He said he did not want to speak too much about the incident, but that there were other road users - pedestrians and motorists - around when it happened.

He was left bruised and thinks a rib or two of his is cracked. He said he was thankful to the Lord that he was able to walk away from the robbery.

"I am so thankful to everyone who stopped to help me. Thank you," he said.

"I have reported the robbery to the police and now something needs to be done about this. This needs to stop," he said.

Police spokesperson, Sergeant Chris Spies, said Da Gamaskop Police are investigating the case and that anyone with any information on the matter should contact the Da Gamaskop detectives commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Maria Gerber (082 778 7245) or Crime Stop (08600 10111).

Previous attacks in the area

5 February 2025 - A man was walking along Louis Fourie Road, near the Boland Park turnoff, at about 08:00, when he was robbed of his cellphone by two men, one armed with an axe.
30 December 2024 - A 54-year-old man was robbed of a cellphone by two people, reportedly wielding pangas, near The Lofts apartments in Louis Fourie Road. This took place at about 08:15.
27 December 2024 - Holidaymaker Francelle Botes was stabbed and robbed while on Dias Beach with her 12-year-old daughter and two nieces.
10 March 2024 - Cyclist Nicky Jacobs was ambushed by a man just before the Boland Park turnoff. She was able to escape his grip and get away.
12 March 2022 - Two elderly women were robbed by a man while walking near the rocks on the beach, near the suburb of Boland Park.
21 October 2021 - Two men - a father and his son - were robbed of their bicycles on Louis Fourie Road close to the entrance to Boland Park.
11 July 2021 - A group of men armed with guns robbed the Total fuel filling station in Louis Fourie Road near Dias Beach.
5 June 2021 - Rikus Raath (21) was fatally stabbed while he was waiting at the Boland Park traffic light in Louis Fourie Road on his way back from buying milk.

Louis Fourie Road crime: law enforcement role players comment

A number of robberies and attempted robberies have taken place on Louis Fourie Road in the areas of Dias and De Bakke over the past few years.

There were several comments on Mossel Bay Advertiser's Facebook page after the most recent attack - on a cyclist.

People noted that the area had been a crime zone for years.

Local cyclist Nigo van Huysteen says he knows several cyclists who try to avoid that area, but there are a few

who risk it.
"It is a dangerous area, especially if you are cycling alone. It has been a problem for a few years now, but no one has done anything about it," he said.

Hot Spot
Da Gamaskop Community Policing Forum (CPF) secretary Hannelie Marais said the stretch of Louis Fourie Road from just after Santos Beach to Boland Park is a hotspot for crime, whether you are a runner, cyclist or making your way to work or home on foot.

She said that because of the bends in the road and blind spots, incidents of crime are not always captured on the CCTV cameras focused on the road.

"I have already started making pamphlets to hand out to people, as well as to hotels and bed and breakfast establishments, so that visitors know it is a no-go zone," she said.

"We all need to look out for each other, so if you see someone walking along that road, offer them a lift if you can, or drive slowly next to them for a little while, if possible.

"If you see someone broken down at the roadside, stop and wait with them or near them until help arrives. People who intend to rob are less likely to do so if they see that the person they want to target has people around them, watching them."

Da Gamaskop CPF chairman Philip Mattheus says he has brought the matter to the attention of the station commander and the Visible Policing commander in CPF meetings and he is awaiting feedback.

Camera capacity
The Mossel Bay Municipality said that discussions are under way to increase camera capacity on Louis Fourie Road from De Bakke towards Hartenbos. It said there is correspondence with the relevant provincial authorities on this.

It said follow-up feedback from the Joint Operations Centre (JOC), after CCTV footage of cameras in the area was reviewed, indicated that the robbery of the cyclist did not take place in view of the cameras.

The municipality stated that crime prevention is the mandate of the police and not the primary function of the municipal Law Enforcement Department.

It said that it trained a first responder unit in June 2022 through the police to become a "force multiplier" in its efforts to grow community safety.

"Visible patrols are conducted along Louis Fourie Road. These patrols are usually done between 06:00 and 07:30, which is the time indicator on previous crimes that took place in the vicinity of Blue Waters. The visibility patrols concentrate on the Blue Waters area where a pathway exists as an escape route for criminals," it said.

Vigilance
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp says there have been numerous interventions by the Da Gamaskop Police.

He says a weekly crime meeting is held at the station with the crime on Louis Fourie Road in particular being discussed.

"At these meetings, sector commanders are tasked to go out into the community and to make it aware of the dangers of the so-called 'hotspot'," says Kapp.

"On a monthly basis, the police have meetings with all the security companies and also ask them for assistance with patrols in the area."

He says an urgent meeting was held on Tuesday, 11 February, with the Community in Blue - community members who patrol, neighbourhood watches, the CPF and municipal Law Enforcement, where the dangers of the area were discussed and development plans were put in place. He says these include an increase in visibility.

"The police encourage all the members of the public to be more vigilant and to report crime or suspicious behavior in the area. It is important that the community be more vigilant. The branding of a so-called hotspot in one area is not permanent as crime patterns can change from area to area," Kapp says.

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