A 23-year-old woman from Thembeni in KZN has been forced to flee her home and go into hiding with her four-year-old son following a brutal attack in December.

Wendy Dube reported the attack to the police and identified a suspect, who she claims previously raped her repeatedly.

However, according to her, the man in question was not arrested nor was he questioned by the police.

Dube says the man she suspects had been released on bail in 2021 after rape charges were brought against him, despite allegedly threatening to harm her and her family if she reported him.

He failed to appear in court, leading to a warrant for his arrest. He disappeared for about a year, but reportedly returned to Thembeni in November last year.

In December, Dube and her son were attacked with a hammer while they slept in their home. Dube’s 79-year-old grandmother and nephew were also in the house at the time.

Dube suspects the attacker gained entry to the house when her grandmother briefly left to use the bathroom outside.

The attack left Dube with serious injuries, including the loss of her front teeth and damage to her vision and hearing. Her son, Smelokuhle, is now breathing through a tracheotomy after fighting for his life in hospital.

She has sought refuge in Durban, while her grandmother was taken in by relatives.

She says her pleas to police had seemingly fallen on deaf ears.

Dube adds that she told the police about the threats against her, but the investigating officer reportedly told her that she must realise that her case is not the only case he is working on.

Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiwe Ngcobo confirmed that KwaDukuza police were investigating a case of attempted murder.

The motive for the attack remains unknown.

Dube urges the police to take her case seriously and to bring her attacker to justice as she continues to fear for her and her family’s safety.