Five suspects attack joggers in the west of Pretoria
As the family jogged, the five men ran with them. Then they suddenly stopped and confronted the family. He said the suspects demanded the family remove their shoes, cellphones and jewellery.
An afternoon jog for a family of four has turned south when they were attacked by a group of five suspects in the Hercules area. Father Japie Venter said he, his two sons and his daughter were attacked when they went jogging on Tuesday afternoon in Magaliesberg (Theo Martins), east from the R80 in the west of Pretoria.
Rocks were thrown and a knife was used to threaten the family. The suspects took their shoes and jewellery. The family was left with injuries and the father was rushed to hospital.
“We saw the men while we were jogging up the mountain but it did not bother us. We were under the impression they were also joggers,” said Venter.
Venter said as they jogged, the five men ran with them. Then they suddenly stopped and confronted the family. He said the suspects demanded the family remove their shoes, cellphones and jewellery.
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“The five suspects used stones to harm us physically. They kicked us and used a knife to threaten us. They made us lie down on the ground not facing them,” he said.
The men then tied them all up, took their valuables and ran off in the direction of the freeway.
“By the grace of God the five men did not hurt my daughter in any way,” said Venter.
The family managed to untie themselves. The boys carried their father back to the vehicle that was parked not far from where the incident took place on the hill. Venter was rushed to the hospital for injuries he sustained and was in hospital for three days.
He said his children went to open a case at the police station. The police told them a similar incident occurred on that hill the previous weekend.
“The guy who was attacked was alone on the mountain. He went there to pray,” Venter said.
Venter concluded that while he was in hospital, a patient was admitted for a similar incident where a group of suspects attacked him while he was jogging.
According to police officials from Hercules, they are still on the lookout for the five suspects in connection with the robberies and assaults that took place in the area. Chairperson of Hercules CPF Johan van Staden has not received any complaints about this matter. He urges the community of Hercules to please report related crime incidents like this.
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