A Rosebank commuter, Deeana Naidoo, was punched in her face twice in a road rage incident on the afternoon of 3 February.
She was allegedly punched for a small bumper graze. “I encountered an accident on Jan Smuts Avenue, at the corner of Avon would Road.
“Amidst the chaos, the traffic came to an unexpected standstill our vehicles barely touched. While trying to manage the situation with the driver involved, he assaulted me through the window of my vehicle,” explained Naidoo.
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She said that initially, the driver of the other car had carried on driving, and only once she had stopped, did he stop. “I started apologising to him as he approached my window and, as I reached to fetch my purse and phone to give my details, I felt this blow to my face. At first, I was confused and didn’t know what happened – then he came at me again and was swearing at me too.”
Bystanders then intervened and allegedly tried to stop the man from attacking her further. The man’s wife then got out of the car and said it was her car that Naidoo had bumped and asked if she would like to fight.
“She told me it was okay that her husband had hit me and it was okay that I was defenceless. It was then that people from a nearby company told me to stay in my car not get out.
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“A lady from the company then told me to park my car on the company premises and she took me to the Rosebank Police Station to open a case.” The driver of the other car then allegedly drove off when he saw them going to the police station.
Naidoo said she had no way of defending herself as she was completely blindsided by the attack. “I remember saying that, please, I have nothing – my phone is dead, please, just someone help me. I am so glad that the woman helped me and after we opened the case she took me to her office and allowed me to call my family.”
She sustained bruising to the left side of her face and a swollen eye from the incident, she opened a case of common assault at the Rosebank Police Station.
“I can confirm that a case has been opened at the station. We are investing the case very closely to make sure that the suspect is apprehended,” commented Bongi Mdletshe spokesperson for Rosebank Police Station.
She said she has one plea to the community, her plea to everyone is to not turn a blind eye. “To those who have been affected by something similar, please go and report these incidents. Play an active role in bringing these perpetrators to justice.”
