Perdeby Tuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks
03February2014
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Olienhout student attacked in Hatfield
An Olienhout resident was attacked on Prospect Street on 24 January. Photo: Brad Donald TEBOGO TSHWANE A second-year Olienhout resident was attacked outside Hatfield Square on 24 January. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, was hit repeatedly in the face with a brick during the attack, which occurred around 04:30. The victim was with a friend on Prospect Street just outside the Madelief residence when the attack happened. They had decided to walk back to Olienhout after their lift did not arrive. “They were on their way to Duncan Street when they heard someone approaching from behind. The student alleges that he was hit in the face with a brick by an unknown man when he looked back. He sustained head injuries and was taken to a local hospital for
He suffered from fractured cheek and temporal bones and also lost three of his teeth. treatment,” said Brooklyn Police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach. A third student, who is also an Olienhout resident, witnessed the attack and tried to assist the victim. He suffered minor injuries from his altercation with the suspect. The suspect fled the scene shortly afterwards in a car that had just arrived. The victim was immediately admitted to Muelmed Hospital. He suffered from fractured cheek and temporal bones and also lost three of his teeth. He underwent surgery on 28 January. A specialist from the hospital told the victim’s family that had the brick hit him one centimetre above, he could have sustained serious brain damage or even died.
At this point the motive for the attack is still unclear. Nothing was stolen from the students and the witnesses say that the attacker did not ask for any of their possessions. Police are investigating the possible motive. “It seems that the victim and his friends observed a fight in Hatfield shortly before the incident,” said Captain Weilbach.
“For some reason students from res are easy targets for these people.” Olienhout house father David Raats told Perdeby that he does not think that the boys were involved in the fight that took place at the Square. He added that there have been reports of men in their 20s going to Square with the intention of starting fights. “I have heard it often that around this time of the year a lot of people go to the Square looking for trouble. For some reason students from res are easy targets for these people.” He also mentioned that the victim is not the type of person who gets into fights. “He is a mellow guy. He is not the type of guy who looks for trouble.” The victim’s mother told Perdeby that the incident has been shocking and traumatic for the whole family. She added that both the residence and the university have been very supportive and have offered to assist the family with counselling should they need it. The student was released from hospital on 29 January and is back at Olienhout. Apart from stitches and some swelling, he is recovering well. He said that that the attack “could have been much worse, I could have died. I am feeling fine”. He will have to undergo more surgery to replace the teeth that he lost in the
attack. A case of assault has been opened at Brooklyn Police Station. Any person who witnessed the assault or who might have information that might assist police in this case can contact the Brooklyn Police Station. “Students can assist the police [by] assuming responsibility for their own safety and the security of their belongings by taking simple, common sense precautions,” said Captain Weilbach. Brooklyn SAPS has compiled a list of precautionary measures students can take to reduce the risk of being a victim of such an incident: • Walk away from a heated argument to prevent it from turning violent. • Do not carry illegal or dangerous weapons. The presence of a weapon could escalate a tense situation. Section 3 (1) of the Dangerous Weapons Act of 2013 (Act No. 15 of 2013) stipulates that any person who is in possession of any dangerous weapon under circumstances which may raise a reasonable suspicion that the person intends to use the dangerous weapon for an unlawful purpose, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years. • Avoid excessive drinking. Alcohol impairs judgement and prevents you from protecting yourself effectively. • Do not walk alone late at night. Walk in groups and take well-lit routes. • Be aware of your surroundings. • Do not use a cell phone or listen to music while walking.