Mother, daughter stabbed on Ballito beach
“I think he panicked when he saw the blood.”
A mother and daughter were assaulted and the daughter stabbed while walking on the beach at Ballito’s Salmon Bay on Tuesday.
Bela de Sousa and her daughter Gabriela, who matriculated in 2013, parked their car at The Galley and walked towards Zimbali. They were on their way back when an aggressive African man ran towards them, demanding their cellphones and wallets.
Before they could respond, their attacker began hitting them with a rock, cutting and bruising them. Bela and Gabriela fought back, and Bela pushed him away. The man pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed Gabriela in the left hand after trying to stab her mother.
“I think he panicked when he saw the blood because he bolted back up the pedestrian steps,” said Bela.
Ron Warwick witnessed the attack and rushed Gabriela to hospital on his motorbike.
Gabriela’s hand was bleeding heavily and by the time they got to the hospital, both them and the bike were covered in blood.
The doctor confirmed that Gabriela had severed some tendons in her hand. She was operated on yesterday afternoon at about 4 pm.
“She has four fingers that are not working,” said Bela.
Ironically the attacker ran away empty handed.
“We are still in shock and cannot believe it happened to us,” said Gabriela.
Bela said she has seen their attacker before and thinks he might be a local car guard.
“He is about 20 years old and we would definitely be recognise him if we see him again,” she said.
Bela said in South Africa, life is not cherished and they no longer felt safe on Ballito’s beaches. She suggested the police patrol the beaches and said she would still walk on the beach but not without her husband and her dog.
“Carrying pepper spray would also be a good idea,” she said.
Bela and Gabriela would like to thank Ron Warwick for his help and they wanted to warn the public to be vigilant at all times.
“It is so sad that this is happening here in Ballito,” said Gabriela.
Umhlali SAPS Lt Col Dieter Fittkau said the case has been reported and an investigation opened.
http://northcoastcourier.co.za/34683/mother-daughter-stabbed-on-ballito-beach/
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