AFTER another man fell victim to a brutal greenbelt attack last Thursday night in Wildenweide, resident Beena Simmadri has called on the public to refrain from using the pathway leading to Brackenham.
The Buffalo Bend resident says the greenbelt poses a danger to commuters as criminals wait to prey on them and rob and even assault them for their belongings.
She says it had been raining heavily the night of the attack and she heard screaming outside her home at around 8.30pm. She found the bleeding man hanging onto her gate asking for help.
Rushing to the aid of Sethimbiso Ngubane, an eNseleni man who was assaulted, stabbed and struck with an iron rod on his head, brought flashbacks of a similar attack which happened a year ago in the same greenbelt.
The victim was attacked while walking home and sustained a broken arm, stab wound to the back and a head injury.
The scene was all to familiar to Simmadri, who had also come to the rescue of a young man in October 2012 after he was mugged, assaulted and stabbed multiple times while walking through the greenbelt.
Living in a street in close proximity to the greenbelt, she often hears about people who have fall victim to robbery and assault.
‘The 43 year-old was on his way home when he was attacked and seriously injured.
‘He ran out of the bush after being attacked and came at our gate for help, we opened up and he just fell on the grass, groaning because of the excruciating pain.
‘We called the police and ambulance and he was taken to hospital for further treatment,’ she said.
Simadri says the greenbelt remains a problem area and people are mugged on a weekly basis, coupled with grievance bodily harm.
‘Homeowners in this street also fall victim to house robberies and theft of items left outside the home by criminals jumping the fences.
‘We need the public to stay away from these areas, we understand that people and even school children use this pathway as a shortcut, however it is a huge risk and danger to their wellbeing.
‘We have called on the municipality to intervene and maybe even suggest fencing off the area,’ she said.
