A grade 10 pupil from Hoërskool Riebeeckrand, Matt Kruger, was mugged and assaulted while walking to school on 21 January.
According to Kruger, he was walking along Jacaranda Street at around 7am when a man approached him from behind.
The attacker walked around Kruger, turned and held a knife to his chest, instructing him to hand over all his valuables.
“Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed the attacker’s knife hand and tried to get him to drop the knife,” Kruger explains.
After a short struggle, during which Kruger was wounded in the shoulder, the suspect dropped the knife and Kruger started punching wildly at the attacker.
The suspect fought back and managed to crack two of Kruger’s ribs.
Kruger eventually managed to get the upper hand and punched the suspect to the ground.
He then ran the short distance to the school in order to get help.
Luckily the suspect did not get hold of Kruger’s valuables.
According to Randfontein SAPS spokesperson Captain Appel Ernst, this area in not known for these kinds of attacks.
“We urge people who are mugged and assaulted to immediately report it to the police in order for us to accurately assess the possible need for more patrols in the area,” says Ernst.
Ernst also gives the following safety tips to pedestrians:
Pupils should always try to avoid quiet streets and keep to busy roads. It is also better to walk in groups if possible.
“If you know or suspect that someone is following you, go to the nearest well-lit or busy area and call the police,” says Ernst.
She adds that pedestrians should react by yelling or shouting for help, rather than to confront the suspect.
