PARTY POOPERS - Armed robbers steal phones and booze in Philippi

A GANG of skelms became the ultimate party poopers by robbing a surprise birthday party in Philippi at gunpoint.

According to Western Cape police, the three boewe walked into the venue, posing as guests, before unleashing mayhem.

Reports say they greeted mense, wishing the birthday boy and mingled with the party people and then struck without warning.

In video footage from Sunday’s incident that has gone viral on social media, guests het hulle boeglam geskrik when what sounds like a gunshot goes off.

It’s then that two men can be seen brandishing guns and pointing them around.

They attacked a man and gave a woman at the party a warme klap, before stealing cellphones, cash and booze from the shocked family.

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), a user, @KingMntungwa posted a video of the incident.

He confirmed his family was hosting a surprise party for his uncle in Philippi.

He wrote: “Good day everyone, so yesterday my mother and father and other family members held a surprise party for my father's brother in phillipi. Mind [you] this happened inside the house not in the yard inside the house…

“Three men barged in, shot inside the house, took 12 phones, and there was a toddler in the house as well.”

He urged social media users to be vigilant, even when at home, and ensure all gates are secured.

He added: “All three (suspects) attacked my father. They smacked his sister, and they threatened to kill my mother. They also gunpointed everyone to remove their passwords and tracking devices.”

Provincial police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala said the three suspects were “greeted warmly and even hugged the victims.

Gwala reported: "Philippi detectives are investigating a case of house robbery, following an incident that occurred on Saturday 31 January 2026 in Sixwayikati Street Browns Farm.

"According to reports, a surprise birthday party was hosted at the mentioned address.

"Three unknown men came in pretending to be guests, they greeted warmly and even hugged the victims. They went out and came back with a firearm, demanding cell phones, and money."

She said a case of house robbery was being investigated with no arrests by Monday morning.