Durban - A Durban woman who was bitten, kicked, pushed and shoved by a mugger who attacked her while she was on her way to church has told of her ordeal.
The 20-year-old Umbilo resident, who is still in hospital nursing severe bite injuries after the Sunday attack, spoke to the Daily News on Tuesday.
She said she had been walking with her teenage sister on Esther Roberts (Frere) Road, in Glenwood, when she was accosted by a man who accused her of taking a picture of him with a smartphone. They had been on their way to the Christian Revival Church, in the Tollgate area.
The 35-year-old man demanded to see the woman’s phone so he could “check” that she had not taken a picture.
A scuffle followed, with the man initially kicking, pushing and shoving her.
When she fought back, he bit her multiple times on the neck and arms and sank his teeth into her hand.
The woman, who asked not to be named because she fears for the safety of her family, said she chased after the man wanting her phone and handbag back.
“His teeth were going deep into my skin and because I don’t want any infections I let him go,” she said.
The man tried to flee by mini-bus taxi, but when the passengers realised he had robbed the woman, they came to her aid.
“He tried to get into the taxi and they threw him out and started to beat him,” she said. “People came out with sjamboks, some people took the sjambok and they started hitting him and kicking him and standing on his head and feet,” she said.
Police spokeswoman, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, confirmed a suspect had tried to rob a woman of her cellphone by biting her in Glenwood. She said police were investigating a case of robbery and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He was expected to appear at the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The woman said the police had kept her and the man in the same room when she was at the police station, and that is when she became scared.
She said the man had told her he was a member of the notorious 26’s prison gang.
Although cuffed, the suspect allegedly smiled and made kissing gestures at the woman and her 17-year-old sister.
“My mom is very worried, but I am more worried about my sister. Even though he did not do anything to her, she helped me a lot and I fear he will target her,” she said.
The woman said she did not feel bad that the man had been beaten up and said she was lucky to escape.
“My sister prayed for him, but I feel he deserved it. I was lucky that he did not have a gun or a knife,” she said.
Daily News