In an attempt to defend himself, the victim threw the potato curry he was cooking onto the suspect before striking him with the cooking pot.
A 63-year-old Tongaat pensioner allegedly fought off an armed robber who accosted him while he was cooking, and hit the intruder with the pot of potato curry.
“The pensioner was alone at his residence in Watsonia and he was cooking a meal when an unknown male entered his property through the front door at around 4.30pm,” said Prem Balram, head of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA).
He said the security gate of the home had been left open.
"The suspect accosted the pensioner and assaulted him with a metal prayer item.
“In an attempt to defend himself, the victim threw the potato curry he was cooking onto the suspect before striking him with the cooking pot.
“The suspect managed to steal cash from the pensioner’s wallet and a cellphone before fleeing the residence,” Balram said.
He said the pensioner sustained injuries to his head and was transported to hospital by private vehicle for medical attention.
“RUSA officers conducted an extensive search for the suspect, however, the suspect could not be found,” he added.