Two nights ago a family man who attempted to defend his family from armed robbers, was left with a fractured skull after being beaten with a pickaxe handle.
What was supposed to be an early night in bed and in front of the television, turned into a bloody horror ordeal for the Raolane family.
According to Jermina Raolane (50) her husband, 21-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter went to the TV room just before 9pm while she retired to the bedroom. Just after 9pm she suddenly heard the loud crashing of glass, which later turned out to be the large TV room window. Her first thought was that the children’s mischief might have gone awry. As she was walking down the corridor she was suddenly confronted by an unknown man with a knobkerrie. He forced her into the bathroom and locked the door. Meanwhile her husband was desperately trying to defend his family against two more suspects in the kitchen who were respectively armed with a gun and pickaxe handle.
The suspects eventually got the better of him, violently beating him with the pickaxe handle and leaving him with a fractured skull. Alert neighbours contacted the neighbourhood watch and the police.
A traumatised Jermina said the only belongings the robbers took were a cell phone, a purse, some of her son’s clothing and two speakers.
“Why? We work so hard and they just come and take our stuff,” she asked repeatedly. “Are the government helpless to protect us?” Jermina, who has been living in Witpoortjie for 18 years, wanted to know.
Before leaving the Record wanted to know where she were going to sleep with the windows broken and little security.
“Here. I am prepared. I will not let them drive me from my home,” she said defiantly.
Her husband is currently under observation in Leratong Hospital.
The family and two of their neighbours have also been burglarised in May.
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