Shot, then held hostage in her own home

Cape Town - A Strandfontein mother of two is fighting for her life in hospital after she was shot, allegedly by a close relative, who then held her hostage as she lay bleeding in her own home.

Suraya Adams Schroeder, who works as a personal assistant, was shot multiple times – just two days after celebrating her 41st birthday.

According to witnesses, police were forced to make use of a hostage negotiator who finally persuaded the 43-year-old man to give himself up and allow paramedics to attend to the injured woman.

Neighbours directly across the road heard the shots and said it appeared as if Suraya was being held hostage in a room at the back of the house, as police vans and ambulances assembled outside.

It is believed that the woman had begun divorce proceedings.

Schroeder, originally from Bredasdorp, has two children, aged 18 and 14, who were not in the house at the time of the shooting.

“They were a good family. She’s nice. We didn’t expect this,” said neighbour Desmona Johnson.

“I was worried he (the hostage-taker) was going to shoot himself. I was one of the ones that was glad that he wasn’t hurt,” Johnson said. “People applauded when he gave himself up and came outside.”

Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that a 43-year-old man was arrested in connection with the shooting.

He said the man was expected to appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of attempted murder.

Most neighbours remained tight-lipped and refused to speak to Weekend Argus.

“People here keep very much to themselves. A lot of people are speculating, but I don’t think anybody really knows what happened,” added Johnson.

Weekend Argus