Ciska van Niekerk, who survived a brutal farm attack and lost her left leg as a result of a gunshot wound, will receive a new prosthetic leg as soon as her wound has healed.

The donation came about through a friend who emailed Hotcares, a department at Hot 102.7 FM radio.

As April is International Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, Hotcares generously gifted her with a prosthetic leg through the Jumping Kids Foundation.

Van Niekerk and her husband were attacked on January 13. Three men held her husband at gunpoint at the gate of the farm they were renting at the time of the attack.

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She said the men pushed her husband into their home and ordered him to show them the safe. They violently demanded anything of value, particularly guns and money.

“Despite telling them they did not have any cash in the house, they kept on insisting the couple give them money. They took two phones and a small Bluetooth speaker, and wanted more. One of the suspects put a gun to my head and our dog went crazy. When he wanted to shoot my dog, I told them to leave, bearing in mind that my son was on his way home and couldn’t walk into the chaos. They grabbed my work bag on the way out. It had my ID and bank cards. The men fled the scene on foot,” said Van Niekerk.

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“While they were running away, they started shooting randomly. One of these bullets hit me in the groin.”

The perpetrators withdrew R500 in Matsulu, using the card’s tap option, as it does not require a Pin.

A provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, said the SAPS was still looking for the suspects.

Van Niekerk’s job is exceptionally physically demanding, requiring her to drive and walk a lot, leaving her unable to perform her work duties after the attack.

“As I am a nature guide working in the safari industry; I hoped to start working again before the end of the year. The waiting list for the public healthcare system is approximately one year.With the gift of the prosthetic leg, I might be fitted as early as the end of May, if my wound is healed and ready. I have always been independent and the prosthetic will give me a lot of that back. I need to get back to work and truly hope to get back into the safari industry.

I don’t have any financial backing. The fitting of the new leg will still be guided by the Rob Ferreira Hospital Amputation Clinic before and after the fitting of the prosthesis. I will need physio as well as occupational therapy. Financially its not going well. But up to now I survived because of the support of the tour guiding industry and local donations,” Van Niekerk said.

“Any help will be appreciated as I am not sure when I will be able able to generate an income again.”