Muggers interrupt couple’s proposal

Kyle Jackson and Hanna

Kyle Jackson and Hanna

Published Feb 23, 2016

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Siyavuya Mzantsi

WHAT was supposed to be one of the happiest days of their lives almost turned into tragedy when three men armed with butcher knives came running down a hill as Kyle Jackson was about to kneel down and propose to his girlfriend, Hanna, on Coetzenburg mountain near Stellenbosch.

The couple were robbed of all their possessions.

Jackson, a student at Stellenbosch University, had taken his 24-year-old girlfriend up on the mountain where they kissed for the first time several years ago. It was Jackson’s intention to propose and it had taken him three months to convince Hanna go to the mountain.

Hanna has requested her surname be withheld for her own safety.

“We joyfully walked hand in hand down to the dam, to the exact spot where we had our first kiss many years ago. On our way to the special spot we passed the males, dressed as students who were seemingly enjoying the view and taking pictures of the stadium,” said Jackson.

He said one of the assailants held a knife to his throat and threatened to cut him. Jackson said one of the men demanded their belongings while another snatched Hanna’s handbag and a third stood guard.

Jackson said he waited for the moment to throw himself in front of Hanna if the men tried to hurt her. He said he tried to shield Hanna as the men circled them.

Hanna felt shocked and paralysed, said Jackson, adding that she did not expect the incident to happen on a mountain where she often ran alone.

He hailed the police for catching three suspects and said he plans to propose again on the same spot, but without “disruptions”.

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