Family traumatised after pepper spray attack
The lives of a family of four changed dramatically after they faced two suspects armed with pepper spray.
A 21-year-old Geduld Extension woman might have permanent damage to her right eye after she and her family suffered a pepper spray attack in Somerset Street on September 2.
She was attacked by two suspects who were armed with pepper spray during a house robbery.
Since the attack, van Vuuren has lived in discomfort and pain.
Van Vuuren visited a local optometrist the day after the attack, who referred her to an eye specialist.
She claims the eye specialist says her right eye is severely bruised inside and outside.
“He gave me ointment and eye drops to use, but it doesn’t seem to help at all,” she says.
Van Vuuren’s face was swollen and she was in a lot of pain on Friday.
“I will have to consult with the eye specialist again if the discomfort continues.”
Van Vuuren and her brother Casparus Strydom, as well as their grandparents Marietjie and Nic Strydom, were the victims of two suspects who broke their front security door and wooden door to gain access to their house.
When the family returned home at 4.15pm, after going to a nearby shop, they found the suspects inside the house.
The suspects sprayed the family with the pepper spray.
“Our eyes burned and we started vomiting,” says van Vuuren.
“Even our two miniature pinscher dogs were attacked with the spray.
“It all happened so fast, but I remember I screamed ‘run’, but before we knew it, the two suspects attacked my brother who was in his wheelchair,” she says.
Her brother (19) suffers from Trisomy 9p Syndrome and has the mental capacity of a four-year-old child.
Strydom is particularly concerned about her grandson as he is extremely tense after the attack.
She says one of the suspects attacked her grandson twice while the second suspect attacked her granddaughter three times.
“One of the attackers turned to me but I pulled my jersey over my head to protect my eyes.
When she pulled the jersey off, the attacker allegedly told her “I am coming back for you”.
The family are all petrified and fear for their safety.
The day following the attack, a braai was stolen from their front porch.
“We are not sure if the suspects returned to take the braai,” says Strydom.
The family has since replaced the locks on both doors.
Capt Johannes Ramphora, SAPS spokesperson, confirms a case of house robbery was opened.
“We are investigating the case,” he says.
