Durban - Former ANC eThekwini senior councillor Visvin Reddy was stabbed in the arm by robbers near Pinetown’s Home Affairs offices on Friday.
Reddy said he could have been far more seriously injured.
He and his wife, Visanthie, had been looking for parking across the road from the offices about midday when five criminals pounced on him and demanded his cellphone.
“I stopped at the robots and as I stopped, five very young men came towards my car. My window was open; one of them switched off the car while another demanded my cellphone, which had fallen on the passenger’s seat side on the floor.
“Another was trying to break the window of the back passenger seat. When I tried to reach for the phone, I saw the knife. I quickly tried to move to the passenger side, but he ripped my arm - he stabbed me. It all happened so quickly.”
Reddy’s trauma was fuelled by the “shocking” non-reaction of other motorists and the public who watched as the drama unfolded.
“There were vehicles behind and in front of me, people were working on the side of the road; they saw what was happening, but they just looked on. I would never do that, I would always stop and do what I can.”
Reddy said he was unhappy about the inaccessibility to the office.
“It is in a very inappropriate place. There was construction work taking place ... when I asked the workers where must I park, they told me to park across the road.”
He said he was grateful to have escaped.
“I hope and pray that such an incident doesn’t happen to other people,” he said.
The robbers eventually left without taking anything.
Reddy said he would report the matter to police today as he had been too traumatised.
“I have had seven stitches. I have had to go and get ARVs, which I have to start from today.”
@Sihle_MG