NEVILLE van Niekerk (52), the chapter director of the Harley Owners’ Group at Clearwater in Johannesburg, is currently in a stable condition in Netcare Margate Hospital after being stabbed during Africa Bike Week.
Mr van Niekerk was attacked while returning to his holiday accommodation after the official opening of the rally on Margate beach last Thursday night.
The incident happened at around midnight, when he was approached by two men on the bridge at Lagoon Drive. He was alone at the time. A friend of his, Johnny Wilkinson, said that the men demanded that he hand over his wallet.
“He resisted and fought back but was stabbed twice in the abdomen and twice in the back. The attackers fled, taking nothing,” said Mr Wilkinson.
Despite his wounds, Mr van Niekerk staggered back to the flat, still some 500 metres away. He managed to get into the lift and tried to get to the first floor, which was where he was staying in a flat with friends.
Once inside the lift, he passed out for a few minutes, but when he regained consciousness, his screams for help alerted his friends.
They helped him by stopping the bleeding and also called for an ambulance, which arrived within a matter of minutes.
Mr van Niekerk was taken to hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Five days later he was transferred to the high care unit.
The Harley Owners’ Group and Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company helped transport his bike back to Johannesburg, and assisted the family, including his wife Charmaine, with accommodation in Margate.
Margate police spokesman Captain Gerald Mfeka said a so-called ‘skeleton’ docket had been opened.
“Once Mr van Niekerk is in a condition to talk to police, an official statement from him will be obtained. At the moment no arrests have been made,” said Captain Mfeka.
Mr van Niekerk has attended all the Africa Bike Week rallies in Margate since 2009.
