Former Wits lecturer attacked in Muldersdrift
The Muldersdrift resident was assaulted during an altercation
On April 28, Muldersdrift resident and community leader, Sanele Swana was assaulted during an altercation with land invaders on a piece of land he co-owns. Swana said he went to the property in the afternoon.
“I found three women clearing the ground with spades and I asked them what they were doing there. They said they were clearing the land in order to build, but ‘who is asking this question?’ They then asked me in what capacity was I asking these questions,” Swana began. “I said I am a property owner, I am on my property and I am asking you what you are doing here.”
A back and forth ensued and the women told Swana that the land did not belong to him and asked him to leave.
“I said if that is the case, please let me take a photograph of you because I have this problem that the identity of the people who are conducting activities there is unknown. My lawyer doesn’t know it and neither do we. Now I can see them and actually photograph them.” He said while he was taking out his phone to take the picture, he felt a blow.
“I had underestimated the situation. I was looking at my camera and before I knew what was happening they were right here,” he gestured in front of him. “One swung at me with a spade.” Swana who was hit on his right temple, took out the glasses he was wearing during the attack to show where they broke. “They hit me with the back of the spade right here and grabbed my phone from me. I didn’t want to leave my phone there so we grappled and I managed to recover it and left without the photograph.”
He said he remembered the first blow but could not recall if there were other. The resident, who currently sports a black eye and bruising around the eyelid, rushed to the police where he was given a form which he took to Netcare Pinehaven Hospital.
During that weekend, he received a call from the police regarding the arrest of the suspects. Swana said when they arrived at the place of the assault they were greeted by some of the men from the settlement. On the advice of the police, Swana left the scene. He said there were allegations that he had pepper-sprayed some of the people and that caused the assault.
Muldersdrift Police did not respond to questions sent to them.
