Assaulted Pikitup employee shares her tale
The Alexandra community is standing beside a fellow resident who was brutally attacked with a brick while doing her job in the community.
The community of Alexandra has rallied behind Portia Ncedani – a Pikitup employee who was hospitalised after having been attacked with a brick while sweeping the streets along 12th Avenue.
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In the days following the assault, Ncedani received members of the community at her home in Alexandra, who came to show their support over the assault which had befallen her. Among Ncedani’s visitors were Ward 116 councillor Adolph Marema and CoJ MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services (EIS) Jack Sekwaila – who visited Ncedani on January 6.
Community members of the Alex Gender-based Violence Brigade also made their presence felt when they showed up at the Ncedani residence to show their support during her week of recovery.
In response to Ncedani’s assault, Pikitup spokesperson Muzi Mkhwanazi issued a statement appealing to residents in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) to protect its employees against acts of violence. He reported serious injuries sustained by Ncedani, and that the matter had been reported to the Bramley Police Station.
Johannesburg district police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlhani confirmed, on January 11, that the assault had happened, and that a case of attempted murder had been opened at Bramley Police Station.
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“A 29-year-old suspect was arrested,” said Tshetlhani, concluding with a strong message that: “Police will arrest anyone who commits crimes, and they will be brought before the court.”
Alex historian and community social justice activist Thabo Mopasi said that the suspect had booked himself into Alex Clinic, Edenvale, Johannesburg, and Baragwanath hospitals before police tracked him down.
“If it was not for his family member informing us, and stalling him, he could have escaped,” Mopasi said. He said that the suspect made his bail appearance at the court on January 14, though results of that appearance are not available. He also welcomed members of the community to support Ncedani outside the court.
Lauding the arrest of a suspect, Ward 116 councillor Adolph Marema described the incident as deeply traumatic, and said it highlighted the violence faced by those rendering services to their communities.
“We are relieved that the perpetrator is in custody,” said Marema. “To all municipal workers, we express our sincere embarrassment regarding this barbaric behavior. We appreciate your dedicated service and hope that you can continue your work without fear or prejudice. We are committed to ensuring that this individual faces the full consequences of his actions under the law.”
The opportunity to meet with Portia Ncedani finally came on January 24, when she was able to open her doors to Alex News. Ncedani recounted her ordeal from the moments leading up to being attacked.
According to Ncedani, before assaulting her, the suspect had been chasing a person who she now believes to have been his own brother, according to what community members have said to her.
“As they approached, the [alleged] sibling who was being chased was asking for help in the situation – apparently his brother was attacking him over a missing phone,” Ncedani said.
As the pair disappeared, Ncedani and her colleague returned to work until the more violent of the two men returned, hurling insults at the two women as they went about their business.
“I don’t even know what we did to him, we don’t even know him. So, my colleague and I ignored him until, suddenly, I saw him with a brick, and he struck me over my left eye, first, and I fell. The second hit landed on my face,” Ncedani said.
Ncedani took three blows to the head and face, which rendered her unconscious while her colleague had rushed off to find help. The next thing she remembered was being inside a vehicle rushing her off to her workplace, where an ambulance was called. Ncedani was rushed off to Mediclinic in Sandton – which is where she finally recalled waking up at the end of the ordeal.
“That young man who picked me up, saved my life. Had he not shown up, the other guy would have finished me off while I was unconscious,” Ncedani said. “I pray for God’s will to help me heal so I may go find out who that vehicle belonged to so that I may thank him.”
The ordeal also impacted Ncedani’s family’s wellbeing, leaving her daughter Sibongile Ncedani wondering if more can be done to protect cleaners across their community.
“There are nyaope smokers in that area where my mom works. It would help if the city found someone to guard them as they clean,” Sibongile said. “Maybe they can hire men to clean that area? We’re not saying they’re not also going to be at risk of being attacked, but it would help if they created security for our community’s cleaners.”
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