The victim of a rock-throwing incident on the N12 eastbound on July 11, Chené Lira, shared how she and her fiancé faced the ordeal of their vehicle being struck by a rock on that day.

“We survived an incident that could very easily have ended in our deaths, yet what followed left us feeling almost as abandoned as the attack itself,” described Chené.

She said when they went to the Bedfordview Police Station to report what had happened, they expected compassion, professionalism, and reassurance that everything possible would be done to protect the public. Instead, they were told that although they could open a case of attempted murder, it would allegedly make little difference because the person responsible was mentally disturbed and the case would likely be dismissed once it reached court.

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For Chené, the most shocking part of the experience was that the very person who had allegedly thrown the rock was not separated from the victims. He was allowed to sit in the same area, staring at them while they gave their statements.

“We were expected to relive one of the most terrifying moments of our lives while sitting just meters away from the person who had nearly killed us. No victim should ever have to endure that.”

Chené realised that the attack did not end when they left the scene. She added, “We are now left with the financial burden of paying our insurance excess, repairing our vehicle, and dealing with the emotional trauma that follows an event like this. This has added immense stress during an already difficult period in our lives.”

The motorist said that what concerns them most is that this is not just about them.

“If someone is repeatedly throwing rocks at moving vehicles, they are a danger to every innocent motorist on that road. It should not take a fatality before decisive action is taken,” Chené suggested.

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She noted that this incident also highlights a deeper failure. If the suspect is indeed mentally ill, Chené said he is also a victim of a system that has failed him.

“Without proper intervention, treatment, and supervision, he will almost certainly continue to place lives at risk. This is a tragedy waiting to happen, and it is entirely preventable.”

She added, “Our experience has left us with the painful impression that the police have become reactive instead of proactive. Citizens should never leave a police station feeling less protected than when they arrived. We found ourselves relying more on private security companies, whose swift response and willingness to assist stood in stark contrast to what we experienced at the police station.”

Chené said the role of the police is not simply to open case numbers – it is to protect the public, support victims, and restore confidence in the justice system. On this occasion, she felt they failed on all three counts.

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Chené said, “We are sharing our story because we refuse to believe that this is acceptable. We call on the SAPS and the relevant authorities to urgently review how incidents like these are handled, to ensure victims are treated with dignity, and to address the obvious gaps in mental health intervention before another innocent person loses their life. We survived. The next victims may not be as fortunate.”

Bedfordview SAPS were contacted for comment on July 23, but had not yet provided comment at the time of going to print.