Woman robbed while cycling aided by Mataffin residents
A woman’s leisurely afternoon bike ride turned into a horrific ordeal when she was attacked by two armed robbers.
A 29-year-old woman’s leisurely afternoon mountain bike ride turned into a horrific ordeal when she was assaulted and robbed by two men. The incident, which resulted in serious injuries, occurred on the scenic Halls parkrun route on April 25 at about 17:20.The woman, who spoke to Lowvelder on the condition of anonymity, was cycling her usual route on a black Raleigh bicycle. She recalled how she had passed pedestrians from the Mataffin/Macadamia area and greeted the other residents, families and friends walking along the route.
She encountered two young men near the start of the dirt road, coming from the direction of the Crocodile River. One of the men pointed a firearm at her. “I picked up my speed and just cycled straight for him,” she said. This led to a collision and subsequent struggle, during which she was pushed off her bike. She landed on her back and sustained grazes to her knees. Her bicycle helmet was also broken.
“When I was lying on the ground, they demanded I give them my cellphone and they tried to get the backpack I had on me. I rebuked them in the name of Jesus, out loud.”
Despite the shock and pain, the woman managed to call for help. The assailants fled the scene with her phone, bicycle, backpack and old shoes. It is then that she realised her elbow was dislocated. She managed to reset it herself.
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A passing farmer in a Toyota Land Cruiser stopped to assist her, and shortly after attempted to track down the culprits with the help of the local community policing forum, Boere van Sterkspruit CPF, though without success.
She received aid from some pedestrians and was transported to her nearby apartment where her wounds were cleaned. She was later taken to Mediclinic Nelspruit by her boyfriend for further medical attention, where it was determined that she had sustained multiple fractures in her right arm, requiring surgery and a six-week recovery period.
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The woman expressed her gratitude to the Mataffin community and the medical staff at Mediclinic for their support and care during her ordeal. John Meintjes of the Nelspruit Community Policing Forum advised individuals, particularly women, to remain vigilant when using these routes and suggested carrying pepper spray or a whistle for safety.
Roger Armitage, the managing director of Halls Farm, described the incident as isolated and advised community members to exercise in groups and avoid dark areas, especially with winter approaching. He assured that the farm is regularly patrolled and has an alarm system with Spartan Security for emergencies.
The woman decided not to file a police report. A provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, confirmed this.
She said despite the trauma of it all, she had God to thank for protecting her from more serious injuries.
