Men survive alleged revenge attack

902 A crime scene expert takes pictures of the scene on 7th street in Linden where 3 men tried to hijack a woman after a chase with the police that started in Robindale. 190208. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

902 A crime scene expert takes pictures of the scene on 7th street in Linden where 3 men tried to hijack a woman after a chase with the police that started in Robindale. 190208. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published Aug 24, 2012

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Kimberley - Two men narrowly escaped death when they were run over by a speeding vehicle on Barkly Road in what appears to be a revenge attack.

On Thursday, Wiseman Mafonqo and Richard Rooibaadjie, who work at the Barkly Road hiking spot, said that they believed the incident was deliberate because they earlier had an altercation with driver of the SUV that hit them.

“We were standing on the pavement on Tuesday where vehicles travelling out of Kimberley towards Barkly Road, stop to pick up hitchhikers. The SUV was coming from the direction of Barkly West towards Kimberley but the driver, whom we had an altercation with earlier, swerved off the road and onto the hiking spot where we were standing. He deliberately hit us,” Mafonqo stated.

He said that although they did not personally know the driver of the SUV, they recalled that they had an altercation with him earlier during the day.

“He had earlier threatened to kill us after we quarrelled with him over hitchhikers who were looking for lifts to Barkly West,” Mafonqo stated.

The argument apparently started when the driver of the SUV wanted to pick up hitchikers. He was told by the two men to wait his turn.

Mafonqo said that several hours after the incident a police officer arrived at the hiking spot to ask about people who earlier tried to cut the tyres of a man’s vehicle.

“We told him about the incident. He (the police officer) told us to wait because the man had promised to come back.”

That is when the driver of the SUV ran them down.

Mafonqo said they were taken to hospital where they received medical treatment.

The police said on Thursday that they were investigating a case of attempted murder, reckless and negligence in connection with the incident.

“No one has been arrested in connection with the incident. We appeal to anyone who might have witnessed this incident to contact Sergeant Ben Baadjies on 053 807 6000,” police spokesman, Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana, said.

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