GEORGE NEWS - A woman and her gardener were attacked at the municipal dumping grounds at approximately 08:30 this morning.
According to the victim, who asked that her name be withheld, she and her gardener were on their way to drop off some scrap metal when 11 men surrounded her vehicle and started taking items from the back of the bakkie.
“My gardener got out to tell them that we don’t need their help. They became angry and started attacking him with sticks. One of the men tried to hit him with a panga, but luckily he shoved the bakkie’s door in the way and the panga hit the bakkie. It was so unreal!” the rattled victim said earlier today.
The attackers started hitting the bakkie with sticks and pelted it with stones and bricks. “All the time,” said the victim, “the eight security guards just stood there laughing at us.”
One of the men tried to force open her door, but luckily it was locked.
“I turned the bakkie around as quickly as I could. I knew we had to get out of there. Our lives were definitely in danger.”
At this point the gardener managed to get back into the vehicle and they made their escape.
The damage to the passenger door of the bakkie.
On the way home, the victim stopped at a road block on the R102 between the show grounds and the traffic circle that connects Hope and York streets. She informed the traffic officers of the incident and they called the police.
According to Southern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Chris Spies, five suspects were later arrested.
“I just want to warn everyone to stay away from the municipal dumping site. It’s dangerous and out of control. I’m lucky that I escaped unharmed. I don’t want to imagine what could’ve happened if they managed to open my door,” the victim said.
The gardener, who speaks the same African language as the attackers, told her afterwards that he heard one of the attackers say he doesn’t care about anything else, he just wants the woman.
The gardener sustained bumps and bruises, but no serious injuries.
According to the victim, their attackers loaded the items that they looted from the back of her vehicle into a municipal vehicle that was standing at the dumping site.
Requests for comment have been sent to the George Municipality and George police. Feedback is expected soon.
The bakkie was pelted with stones and hit with a panga.
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