A minor appeared, in-camera, in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court yesterday, accused of attempting to hijack Parliament’s Police Portfolio Committee chairperson, Ian Cameron, and two other DA members in Philippi, Cape Town, earlier this week.

Cameron, Lisa-Maré Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell were leaving the Philippi police training academy when their vehicle was ambushed on Tuesday afternoon, reports News24.

The assailants smashed the car’s windows with bricks, injuring Cameron and Gotsell, who had to be hospitalised.

Cameron managed to fire his gun to fend off the attackers as they continued attacking the vehicle, trying to get inside.

Police arrested two teenagers, aged 16 and 18, for the attempted hijacking.

Yesterday, the court heard that the inquiry was focused on verifying whether the suspect was a juvenile.

Magistrate Jacqui Muller ruled that the media should not be present during proceedings, as the court was still determining whether the minor had a birth certificate.

Muller said that once the necessary details about the minor were obtained, the case would be transferred to another court for a bail application.

NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the second accused was notified of the postponement date and might appear in court as soon as he was discharged from hospital.

The case was postponed to 28 August for bail information.

‘More charges are likely to be added as the investigation continues,’ said Ntabazalila.

Police are still searching for the third suspect allegedly involved in the incident.

Full New24 report