An elderly Centurion resident was attacked with a panga while on a stroll near his Bronberrick home on Tuesday afternoon.
Chris Visser (71) suffered three wounds when he was attacked by an unknown assailant at around 17:45.
Visser reported the crime at Wierdabrug police station on Thursday.
He had been walking in an open field near his home when he was attacked.
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The field is being used for the weekly park run event on Saturdays and for cross-country events by nearby schools.
Visser was once an active runner taking part in various marathons including the comrades, but a back operation a few years ago means he can only walk.
He is now a pensioner and devotes his time to missionary work, having recently published a book on the subject.
He described his attacker as a young man, but cannot recall much else about him except that he was armed with a panga.
“He kept asking me what I had with me and I kept telling him I don’t have anything because I am walking,” said Visser.
“He hit me above the knee as well but luckily the wound there is not deep.”
The assailant demanded money while threatening to keep hitting Visser who attempted to protect himself by lifting his arms.
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“The man saw my wedding ring and demanded that I hand it over. I tried to get it off but it was stuck, this being the first time in years that I tried to remove it,” said Visser.
The man became agitated and demanded the ring come off which it eventually did.
“He took the ring and then he left. I told him that I would pray for him but he was gone soon after,” said Visser.
Visser says that when he used to be a runner, he would often think about what he would do in such a situation.
“Back then I would have tried to outrun the man, but now I think he would have caught up quickly and who knows what he would have done to me then.”
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