Elsjé Venter is recovering from head and jaw injuries after an alleged attack during a morning walk with her two dogs near Friends Café on October 24.

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Venter explained she was longing to be in nature and heard from her neighbours that the walking trail is a popular route for dog owners to walk their pets. She then planned to go for a walk with her two dogs, an adopted Chihuahua and a long-haired Dachshund.

“I looked forward to the walk and was not aware that the trail was in an open field that was not secured,” said Venter. After 08:00, she embarked on the trail and halfway through the trail she turned around and started to make her way back.

“I remember I still took a photo of my dogs and posted it on my WhatsApp status and about 15 minutes before the entrance a man hit me from behind with a log over my head,” she said.

She added that she fell to the ground and felt dizzy. “He demanded my cellphone and took my smartwatch. He also pointed a broken bottle in my face and threatened to kill my dog.” She added that she had a backpack with water bottles which he also requested, but didn’t take it since she told him that there was nothing valuable inside.

He kicked her dogs and in a desperate attempt to escape, she took her dogs and ran away. “He even arrogantly said ‘good luck’,” she said in disbelief.

Patrons rush to help

When she arrived at the restaurant, Candice Peterson and her friend, Keana Strydom, were having breakfast when Venter rushed for help. “We had gone for a run earlier and were having breakfast with Keana’s parents when she approached us,” Peterson explained. They immediately tried to help her by assisting her with freezing her bank account and contacting a friend.

“She couldn’t remember her friend’s number so we looked up his workplace and managed to get a hold of him,” Peterson said. They also contacted Emer-G-Med ambulance services, which arrived within a few minutes.

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“My heart rate was very high and they had to put me on a drip,” Venter said. She was then transported to Mediclinic.

“The staff at the hospital were very helpful and a nurse also comforted me when she saw in which state I was,” Venter said. After a medical examination, the doctors confirmed that she sustained an abrasion on the left side of her head and injured her jaw.

“I’m OK, it was quite a hard knock so I’m still a bit confused after the assault and can’t remember the man’s face,” she said.

However, she recalled that the man was wearing white trousers and had multiple scars on his legs. She also added that he was wearing a dark hoodie and wore red and black gardening gloves.

“I have the exact same gloves at home and threw them away after this traumatic ordeal,” she said. Venter has not opened a case with the police yet, but still plans to open one once she has recovered. “I’m very grateful to everyone who helped and took care of me,” she said.

Security firms urge vigilance

Taysec Security and Divergent Ops responded to the scene, but were unable to find the suspect. Taysec Security and Divergent Ops said they are continuing to investigate the incident and both security companies have urged runners and walkers not to walk alone on the trail.

Friends Café said that it was sad to hear about the incident and contacted security to search the area.

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Upon further investigation, Lowvelder contacted the landowners of the Matsafeni Trust and spoke to one of the trustees, Terry Mdluli.

“We are sorry to hear about the incident and thank God that she is safe. We are aware of the amount of criminal activity in that area and are engaging with law enforcement to safeguard the land.”

He added that they are also working on a new proposed business development that he cannot disclose yet. “The new development will add value to neighbours’ properties and create new jobs for people living in that area.”