Man stabbed in Pinetown mugging
A married couple was attacked outside the Pinetown Home Affairs yesterday morning.
A LOCAL couple were mugged outside the Pinetown Home Affairs office on Thursday afternoon.
Pat Francis, who was taking his wife to pick up her passport, said they stopped at the boom gate and were waiting to drive onto the roof parking when two men accosted them.
”While we were waiting for the boom to be lifted, my wife said that she would meet me inside the building to get a head start on the queue.
“As she climbed out and turned back into the car to pick up her handbag, the two men appeared. The man that appeared behind my wife was armed with a shank (a handmade knife) while the other man came to the driver’s window,” said Francis.
Francis said the man armed with a knife was in his late 20s while the other robber was believed to be in his late 30s. He said they demanded the couple kept quiet and ordered them to hand over their money and cellphones.
His wife pushed past the armed man, while gripping tightly onto her handbag, and ran towards the Home Affairs entrance. The two robbers then directed the attention to the husband.
“They told me they wanted my cellphone and I handed it over. They then wanted my wallet, but I did not have it on me. I told them this but it aggravated them both and the younger man stabbed me on my left shoulder,” said Francis.
The wife had alerted the security guards inside Home Affairs, who came rushing out to see what had happened. The two robbers saw the guards and, instead of making a speedy getaway, they opted to casually walk off from the scene towards the taxi rank nearby.
“The guards then made their way back inside with my wife, the boom had not been lifted and there was traffic along the road behind me so there was nowhere for me to go.
“The two robbers saw this and began walking towards my vehicle again. I had no choice but to manoeuvre my car so that if they did decide to come back, I could reverse into them. They must have seen this and they walked away,” said Francis.
He sped off towards the Pinetown Police Station but spotted a patrolling SAPS vehicle in Bamboo Lane and the policemen offered him assistance.
“They escorted me back to the Pinetown Home Affairs in their vehicle to pick up my wife. The two constables were very helpful and incredibly understanding.
“I want to thank them for all of their help,” said Francis. The two men had fled from the scene by the time the police had arrived at the Home Affairs office.
Francis was left with a gash on his left shoulder where the robber stabbed him. “It’s not too bad. It doesn’t need any stitches,” said Francis.
My husband and I were robbed not even 2 steps from the ramp into Pinetown Home Affairs Office.I’m sure by the very same criminals. No security outside the building at all, and as for the security inside they are not interested. Don’t be fooled by the police container/caravan outside as there is only a policewoman taking affidavits. Pinetown Home Affairs is a disaster, no signs, no service and a total lack of interest.