Woman in induced coma after N12 brick attack

The attack comes after an earlier incident in which a young boy was also struck by a brick, Alberton Record reported.

A man who was standing on the side of the N12 westbound, just before The Glen Shopping Centre, appeared to be aiming for vehicles travelling on the road in what seems to be a senseless attack.

Darrel Badenhorst, who was driving the vehicle, described the suspect as slightly older and thin. “The attacker threw a brick, and it hit Marionette on the left side of her head. Marionette was sitting on the passenger side of the vehicle,” he said.

Badenhorst, who was driving, said he saw the man pick up a brick and was about to throw it. He tried to swerve out of the way but was too late. Badenhorst then reversed to face the attacker but then realised his girlfriend needed medical attention. He tried to phone both the police and emergency services, but according to him, the signal was bad and he was unable to get through to either one.

He knew he had to get Swab to a hospital and proceeded to drive on. About 2km further on, he saw an ambulance assisting a family and also stopped for medical attention.

Justin Slabbert’s eight-year-old son Caden had been struck by a brick on the N12 minutes before the attack on Swab.

Badenhorst mentioned to the paramedics that he could not phone anyone; the paramedics said they had already reported the incident to the police. According to Badenhorst, the paramedics were busy for at least two hours, and in that time no police officers arrived.

Swab will undergo a brain scan on Wednesday, then doctors will decide on the best way to move forward. At this stage she is still in an induced coma.

– Caxton News Service