A 59-YEAR-OLD cycling enthusiast, and a contender in the UCI World Championships, was stabbed and beaten for his bike early on Sunday morning.
Vaughan Cronje left his home for a cycle to Hillcrest between 5.30am and 5.45am and according to his daughter Michelle Mitchell, he had just begun his ride when the incident took place.
“He was nearing the end of Rodger Sishi Road, heading towards Pinetown, where the road splits to the onramp of the M19 and runs parallel to New Germany Nature Reserve,” said Mitchell.
He noticed a grey Hyundai i20 pass him earlier at a fairly slow speed and then again just before the attack happened. He is unsure if it is linked to the incident.
“As he approached the onramp to take the M19 his tyre started to shake and he felt unable to control his bike. He presumed he had a puncture and when he stopped to change the tyre he saw that it had come lose from the wheel,” said Mitchell.
Five men approached Cronje from behind and attacked him. He was kicked in the back, one of the men attempted to throw a stone at his face, he was stabbed twice near his shoulder blade and was also hit with what he thinks was a ‘knobkerrie’.
The men then grabbed his bike and left Cronje bleeding and severely injured on the side of the road. The men ran towards the M19.
According to his daughter, the value of the bike is currently unknown as the tyres had just been replaced and a Garmin was also attached to the bike.
“The bike is a racing bike with specially designed road racing tyres that is probably of little value to those who have stolen it. It’s worth a lot to serious cyclists,” said Mitchell.
Cronje, who said he must have still had adrenalin pumping through his body, did not realise that he was stabbed and walked back home.
“He had his iPone in his back pocket was so scared to take it out, or to even stop and ask people for help, in case he was robbed and attacked again,” said Mitchell.
He is currently in ICU at a local hospital where he is being treated for a punctured lung as a result of his stab wounds.
According to his daughter, he has stitches on his face and is covered in bruises but believes that due to his physical fitness he is able to cope with his injuries a lot better.
“It is a sad realisation that these attacks are frequent and it is not an unusual story to hear about. What does upset me, the rest of my family, and especially my father, is that he has been training especially hard for the World Championships in Slovenia in August this year.
“We are uncertain whether he will be considered medically stable to fly as well as be physically able to still compete,” said Mitchell.
Cronje aimed to represent the senior (60+) cyclists of South Africa at the world renowned road cycling event.
“It is especially sad that fellow South Africans could dampen his morale and physical capabilities so close to him planning to leave to compete in this prestigious race,” said Mitchell.
She thanked the staff at the Westville hospital for their continued care and support.
This is the third incident to be reported in the highway area after a man allegedly stabbed his girlfriend to death and another man was stabbed in Pinetown.
