Durban - Supermodel, actress and TV presenter Shashi Naidoo became one of South Africa’s latest crime statistics when she was attacked at her upmarket Houghton, Joburg, home last Sunday.
Naidoo was awoken from her sleep and fought off her attacker. She managed to get to a panic button and summon help. However, the attacker escaped with valuables, including an iPad.
Naidoo’s father, Harry Naidoo, an ex-woodwork teacher and Port Elizabeth guesthouse owner, told the Sunday Tribune that his daughter was severely traumatised by the incident and had gone overseas to “clear her mind”.
“We are all shocked and very upset about what happened to our Shashi. It took us by surprise. We advised her to go for counselling, and she agreed to do so.”
He added that her doctor had put her on antiretroviral medication as a precautionary measure as she had come into contact with her attackers’ blood as she fought him off.
“She is doing much better now. She is currently in Scotland and will return home on tomorrow. We hope that justice will take its course and that they will find the man who did it,” said Naidoo.
Following news of the incident, social media was abuzz with messages of support and sympathy for the supermodel. Fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment.
Cecilia Dohrika said: “I am so sorry, Shashi. I’m absolutely broken and disgusted by what happened to you. Be strong.”
Another Twitter user, Ameera Isaacs, said news of the incident had frightened her.
“How disgusting! I hope the man is caught,” she said.
Crime statistics released last week showed that house robberies in the last reporting period went up from 17 950 to 19 284 – an increase of 1 334.
Sunday Tribune