A specialised task team, put together to track down and catch a gang of armed robbers terrorising cyclists in Pretoria, is hot on the heels of the robbers.
The attacks, which occurred near Irene over the past three weeks, have left Pretoria mother, Mathilda Barnard, 39, fighting for her life in Unitas Hospital after her throat was slashed.
The latest attack occurred on Wednesday evening when a cyclist cycling along a footpath near the train track leading to the Irene railway station, was beaten with a plank before he was hit over the head with a bottle.
It is believed to have occurred metres away from where the attack on Barnard and fellow cyclist, Andries Kingsley, occurred on Saturday.
Wednesday's attack was the fifth to take place in the past three weeks.
All of those attacked were mountain bikers.
In only one of the attacks was a bike taken. In other cases robbers took cellphones, money and hydration packs.
Barnard, who is in an induced coma, was stabbed in the neck with a garden shears two weeks ago.
The blade severed her artery, penetrating her vertebrae and then touching her spinal cord.
It is not known whether her spine was damaged.
Barnard was found by her fiance Grant Williams, who had gone to look for her when she failed to arrive to meet his father, John, for their evening cycle ride.
John Williams said the attack was nothing more than a brutal, barbaric and malicious attack carried out by people who had no regard for human life.
He said the victims were first sprayed with pepper spray before they were either held up at gunpoint, with knives or beaten with rocks, bottles and planks.
Lyttelton police station commissioner Director Andre Wiese said the task team set up to investigate the attacks was close to making arrests.
"We are hot on the heels of these guys and will be making arrests soon," he said, adding that they had just missed arresting the suspects on Wednesday night.
He said most of the attacks were carried out by two people and had taken place in and around the fields near Irene station and railway lines during early morning or evening.
Derek Palmer, Pretoria Mountain Bike Club chairperson, said the attacks were cause for major concern.
He urged people to cycle in pairs and to inform others what route they were taking.