Father and son involved in cyclist-attack at Voortrekker monument
Father and son attacked while cycling near Fort Schanskop.
A father and son have been accosted while cycling in yet another mugging at the Voortrekker monument.
This is the third such attack at the monument in two months and the fourth one in a nature reserve in Pretoria in recent months.
Riaan Botha and his 13-year-old son were cycling at the monument last Thursday. “Just before we reached the climb up to Fort Schanskop we were accosted by two men.”
Botha said the two demanded their bicycles. “When we refused, they started throwing rocks at us. In a bid to defend ourselves we did the same.”
During this altercation Botha was hit on the back of his head. “As I was trying to defend my son from the two attackers, one of them grabbed my mountain bike and made off with it. The other man followed him.”
Botha said he needed stitches for the wound at the back of his head and he and his son were still recovering from the trauma.
“My son has been to a psychologist to make sure that he will be okay, as the incident has been quite traumatic.”
Sonja Lombard, managing director of the Voortrekker monument, previously said the attackers were believed to be vagrants living on the north side of the reserve.
The previous attacks were all at remote sections of the reserve, this is the first so close to the monument.
Geraldine Paulsen of the Voortrekker monument said the matter had been reported to the police and plans had been made to stop the attacks.
“The police have said they are planning on clearing out the vagrants living in the reserve within the coming week. This will hopefully help stop any more attacks.
“In the mean time we urge everyone visiting the reserve to take the utmost precaution. Do not ride alone and keep a lookout for any suspicious behaviour,” said Paulsen.
A 19-year-old Danish girl and a 16-year-old Centurion boy was robbed, beaten and tied up at the monument on 27 March and 2 May respectively. Both were cycling on their mountain bikes at the time, and have since recovered.
An elderly couple was beaten, tied up and robbed in the nearby Groenkloof Nature Reserve on 6 May. Both survived the ordeal.
Also read:
Danish cyclist attacked and robbed at Voortrekker Monument
Woman found dead at Voortrekker Monument
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