Johannesburg - Every year, celebrated poet Peter Horn and his wife, Anette, write a book on German literature and philosophy.
And that’s why even from his hospital bed at Milpark, where he was recovering from stab wounds inflicted by a robber’s screwdriver, the material for their new book was one of the first things he asked about.
The news was distressing – his computer, and back-up system, had been stolen.
“He was devastated,” said Libby Meintjes, the head of the school of literature, language and media at Wits University. “He said, ‘Oh dear, I’ve lost all my work on the computer’.”
Early on Wednesday morning, an intruder broke into the couple’s home in Westdene. Both work at Wits University’s German department.
“When they woke up he came in, and Peter tried to stop him. He attacked him first and beat his wife.”
The intruder locked the couple, both senior professors in the school of literature, language and media at Wits University, in their bathroom and stabbed them with a screwdriver.
Horn, who is in his early 80s, bore the brunt of the attack.
Horn is a renowned poet, who distinguished himself with his celebrated collection of anti-apartheid poetry.
“They are both amazing scholars and are very productive. It’s devastating; we are hoping there is work he can build on at the office, for his book.”
The attack happened a few days after their home was burgled in another incident but the couple suspect the incidents are linked. “All their computers were stolen in the first incident,” explained Meintjes. “Then they replaced their phones and iPads and had a second break-in.”
Horn remains in Milpark, recovering from a pierced lung while his wife has been discharged from the hospital, but she will need plastic surgery to repair the damage caused by the screwdriver stab wounds to her face, neck and arms.
“It was a very brutal attack, added Meintjes. “There’s no reason to attack people or injure them like that.”
No arrests have been made.
Saturday Star