Cape Town - A motorist and three of his passengers have become the latest victims of violent attacks on the N2 “hell run” between the R300 and Mew Way, when they were stabbed several times.
Officers on patrol came to their rescue when they noticed a silver Audi on the side of the road with its hazards on and people fighting inside the vehicle.
As the officers approached, two men fled the scene towards Site C in Khayelitsha, the City’s director for policing and enforcement, Robbie Robberts, said on Monday as he described the incident, which took place in the early hours of Sunday.
There were four people in the car, said Robberts.
He said the officers found that the driver of the Audi had been stabbed three times in the chest. Three other occupants had also been stabbed.
The four were rushed to Khayelitsha Hospital, he said, but added that they had been robbed of their belongings.
Their Audi broke down along the side of the road before the attack occurred at about 2am on Sunday.
“The victims could have been killed. The police’s K9 unit arrived.
“The suspects ran towards Site C. I am not sure if there was a case opened with the police,” Robberts said.
MAKING THE N2 SAFER
Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said a number of measures had been implemented to make the N2 safer.
“This incident proves once again that opportunistic criminals will strike at any time. Fortunately, one of the vehicles patrolling in terms of our ongoing multi-agency N2 deployment plan came to the aid of the victims,” said Smith.
He added that no other incidents of crime on the N2 had been reported over the festive season.
Smith urged the communities along the highway to come forward with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
“Someone somewhere knows who the criminals are and I appeal to them to blow the whistle on these thugs,” said Smith.
Metro District Health Services spokesperson Sithembiso Magubane said: “Khayelitsha Hospital has on record two male patients who were brought in five minutes apart on Sunday morning. The first one was brought in at 2.15 am.”
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said police had no record of Sunday morning’s attack.
PREVIOUS ATTACKS
At least 15 people have been arrested for criminal activity along the highway the last year.
Attacks on the N2 last year included that on Tristan Bruce, 27, who was injured when his car was struck by a rock.
On July 29, Warrant Officer Petrus Holz was robbed and stabbed to death by two assailants after one of the tyres on his car was punctured.
In May, a man was arrested for attempting to rob a metro police officer.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or anonymously SMS Crime Line on 32211.
Cape Times