A 65-year-old Groutville man is haunted by the memory of being severely beaten by five armed men on his farm last week.
John Wilkes was admitted to ICU with concussion and internal bleeding after he was tied up and assaulted during a house robbery.
Speaking to the Courier a day after he was discharged from four days of hospitalization, Wilkes said he was lucky to be alive.
His attackers entered his premises by pretending to be interested in his farm for a wedding venue.
“The men drove up and I walked over to their car. They jumped out and all pointed guns at me. They hit me on my knees and head before they tied a packet over my head and tied my legs and my hands behind my back. The first thing they said to me was that they ‘did not come here to play’ and that I should not look at them.”
Also read: Groutville farmer injured in violent house robbery
Wilkes said the aggressive men led him into his house where they shoved him into doors and furniture while demanding that he find his way to the safe.
“We had R4000 in the safe and four guns. They asked me where I kept the rest of the money and I told them that I did not have money, which seemed to irritate them, so they just kicked and punched me from all directions. They put a tight mask over my mouth and nose so that I could not breathe, and I eventually passed out.”
Wilkes, who said he kept praying throughout the ordeal, said the intruders removed the mask from his face and revived him to consciousness by kicking him in the ribs.
“They eventually sat me down and left with the money, guns and a few household items and my bank card which they swiped at KwaDukuza mall for about R1000.
“I managed to break the ties on my feet and call for my staff who live around the farm but were not aware of what was going on in the main house.”
Wilkes suffered concussion, broken teeth, blood clots to his eye and head, bruising on his ribs and bleeding in his lungs and bladder.
Also read: Life in prison for Umhlali wedding venue owner murderers
Despite his pain, he remained grateful that his wife had not been at the house.
“The same men visited my farm the day before to inquire from my wife, Jacqui, about a wedding venue.
“They told her they would return the next day but luckily she left half an hour before they got here.
“I am thankful to have survived the attack and now I need to work on healing both mentally and physically.”
KwaDukuza police are investigating a case of house robbery.
Jacqui said she believed one of the reasons her husband was able to survive the attack was the dramatic turnaround in his health and fitness. Read about John’s transformation on page 12.
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