By Fiona Gounden

A Durban ward councillor and founder of a street children advocacy group was viciously attacked by the very people he's been helping for the past few years.

But, ex-street child Vusi Khoza, 39, a ward councillor for the Durban central area which includes Albert Park, and founder of the Street Children's Operation Siza, says he is going back to the streets to assist street children with a renewed determination even after being beaten up and sent to hospital.

Khoza was at a petrol station in Smith Street last week when he saw someone across the street being robbed of a cellphone and wallet by four boys. He chased the suspects up Smith Street and into Park Street.

He then came across a smash-and-grab where a suspect stole a handbag from a woman driver.

He stopped chasing the initial suspects, who ran into some abandoned buildings, to pursue the second suspect. Khoza was coming close to catching him when he threw the handbag to the ground. Khoza grabbed it, and was then cornered by a group of about 10 boys aged from about 12 to 20, some of whom he recognised as the first suspects.

"I fired a shot in the air to scare them, but they still came towards me. They stoned me and stabbed me. It was terrible as I have worked closely with young people and it felt so sad to be beaten by them. They ran away with my gun."

Passersby called an ambulance and he was taken to the City Hospital with two stab wounds below the shoulder. One of the stab wounds was below his heart and doctors said he narrowly escaped death. He had stitches to his side where he had been hit by stones.

Khoza's wife, Tshwene, had given birth to his daughter, Konke, just two days before.

"I thought I would never see my baby again. But I will be back at work on Monday and I am even more determined to help street children and get them rehabilitated."

A number of suspects have been arrested.