'Don't walk alone at night' is the advice of a Rhodes staff member who ended up in hospital after being attacked by five men last month.
'Don't walk alone at night' is the advice of a Rhodes staff member who ended up in hospital after being attacked by five men last month.
Reliving the terror of that December night, Department of Journalism multimedia and web co-ordinator, Thomas Kapena, said he was in York Street at about 11pm, walking back to his flat after visiting as friend in the township, when he noticed a man approaching him from behind.
"I had taken my phone from my pocket to call a taxi, but because the street was dark, I decided to walk back home to George Street," he said. The man caught up with Kapena and demanded his watch, but he refused and fought off the man. Four other men immediately appeared and started attacking him and rifling his pockets. "I think they must have been hiding along the fences," Kapena said.
"One of them threw a large rock at my head, while the others were kicking me." The men took off with one of the two phones in the left-hand pocket of his jeans, as well as his watch and wallet containing R370. Luckily they left behind a third cellphone that he had been carrying in his hand.
"When they saw I was bleeding, they ran away. "So I got my strength together, ran the rest of the way home and called an ambulance," said Kapena.
Kapena was taken to hospital, where he was admitted overnight and his wounds stitched. Kapena said he hadn't been to the police to report the attack because he was still in a lot of pain. "I am very fortunate that I am still alive to share this with people. I have often heard of people being mugged and not surviving. I urge people to exercise caution at all times and to avoid walking on streets, especially alone in the dark, " said Kapena. He is due to return to work next week.
