“”IT’S put years on me,” is how a 78-year-old Musgrave pensioner has described her life after being the victim of a recent mugging in Stephen Dlamini Road.
The woman, who asked not to be named, said before the attack she was active and fit, and enjoyed getting out and about, but now she battled to get out of bed in the mornings.
The incident took place around 5.15pm on a Sunday evening, when the woman went for her daily walk up the road and back to the old age home where she lives.
“I try to walk for 20 minutes every day, and set out for my walk. When I got opposite Berea Park, two men grabbed me and thrust a gun into my ribs. They demanded my jewellery. Thankfully they seemed to be in a hurry and took my four bracelets, and not my rings,” she said.
She said the men darted off, leaving her traumatised.
“A car stopped when the driver saw what had happened, and then tried to chase after them, but they got away. Fortunately, they offered me a lift home. The guards in the road didn’t do anything to help me, but I don’t think they were from the usual guarding company,” she said.
The victim said she called the Berea police at 5.45pm, giving details of the incident, and requesting an officer go see her to report the crime as she couldn’t go out again, but police failed to arrive.
“I was told someone would come, but when no one had arrived, I called again at 7pm, again at 8pm and 9pm, and at 10pm I went to bed. I wasn’t given any reference numbers when I called. I am still waiting. The crime in the area is unbelievable. I am devastated after what has happened. I am usually so active, but now I crawl out of bed in the morning,” she said.
Speaking to the Berea Mail after the mugging, the woman’s friend said the victim who speaks fluent Zulu and Xhosa, had asked the men why they would do such a thing.
“My friend is a great knitter and on her walks she always asks people on the street if they want beanies. She is so kind and knits blankets for charity. She is an intelligent and active person, and this has been devastating for her,” she said.
Berea SAPS’s Lt Poobalan Naidoo, said it was difficult to comment as there were no reference numbers for the complaint.
“If I had a reference number I could follow up. If the complaint was not logged on the computer it will be difficult to trace,” he said.
