Three East London residents were attacked and robbed by armed thugs near Eastern Beach yesterday not far from where advocate Dali Mpofu was stabbed last year.
Ally Ayubu of Quigney and two friends were accosted by three men armed with knives and a gun near the spot where Mpofu was attacked and where two Swedish tourists were raped in 2012.
Ayubu has a stab wound on his back and one on his arm.
The area, notorious for its crime rate and violent attacks, still has no signs warning people not to venture along the stretch of beach between Eastern Beach and Bats Cave.
The Daily Dispatch arrived on the scene soon after the incident and spoke to Ayubu while he was waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
He speech was sluggish as he complained of dizziness, prompting his friends to put him in a private vehicle and rush him to Frere Hospital where he was treated.
Ayubu said the incident occurred as he was drying off after a swim.
“I was with my friends when suddenly three men appeared from the bush armed with a gun and a knife.
“They demanded that we hand over our belongings – the guy who was pointing at me with a firearm drew closer to me and I pushed his his hand back and a struggle ensued,” said Ayubu. “During the struggle the guy who had been holding the knife approached and stabbed me twice from the back. I then let go of the guy.”
He said while bleeding and struggling to keep his balance the suspects robbed him of his phone.
“Then they went to my friends, who were scared, and took their phones,” said Ayubu. The men then fled into the bushes.
East London police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana said police were alerted while patrolling near the beachfront.
“The members of the K-9 Dog Unit came across the victim bleeding on the beachfront during patrolling. He told them he had been stabbed by suspects who ran to the bushes.
“Our members searched but could not find them,” Tana said.
“This was an isolated incident. It cannot be compared to Mr Mpofu’s case or that of the women tourists because it has been quiet for a while now.”
Tana said the metro’s beaches were not “no go areas” and people could still visit them as long as they remained vigilant at all times.
Asked why Buffalo City Metro had not put up signs warning members of the public to be cautious in a known danger zone, spokesman Keith Ngesi said: “We do put signs in our hot spot areas and if there is a need to make more, our amenities department will look into that. As we approach the festive season people are advised to walk in groups and not carry items that will attract criminals.
“Also, they should not go to bushy areas or little-travelled roads.”
Tana said the police were looking into a possible case of robbery but would only formulate charges once a case had been opened.
“The victim has not yet been to the police station as he might still be recovering in hospital,” he said.
Members of the public at the beach said police needed to increase patrols in the area.
Beach thugs strike again
Three East London residents were attacked and robbed by armed thugs near Eastern Beach yesterday not far from where advocate Dali Mpofu was stabbed last year.
Ally Ayubu of Quigney and two friends were accosted by three men armed with knives and a gun near the spot where Mpofu was attacked and where two Swedish tourists were raped in 2012.
Ayubu has a stab wound on his back and one on his arm.
The area, notorious for its crime rate and violent attacks, still has no signs warning people not to venture along the stretch of beach between Eastern Beach and Bats Cave.
The Daily Dispatch arrived on the scene soon after the incident and spoke to Ayubu while he was waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
He speech was sluggish as he complained of dizziness, prompting his friends to put him in a private vehicle and rush him to Frere Hospital where he was treated.
Ayubu said the incident occurred as he was drying off after a swim.
“I was with my friends when suddenly three men appeared from the bush armed with a gun and a knife.
“They demanded that we hand over our belongings – the guy who was pointing at me with a firearm drew closer to me and I pushed his his hand back and a struggle ensued,” said Ayubu. “During the struggle the guy who had been holding the knife approached and stabbed me twice from the back. I then let go of the guy.”
He said while bleeding and struggling to keep his balance the suspects robbed him of his phone.
“Then they went to my friends, who were scared, and took their phones,” said Ayubu. The men then fled into the bushes.
East London police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana said police were alerted while patrolling near the beachfront.
“The members of the K-9 Dog Unit came across the victim bleeding on the beachfront during patrolling. He told them he had been stabbed by suspects who ran to the bushes.
“Our members searched but could not find them,” Tana said.
“This was an isolated incident. It cannot be compared to Mr Mpofu’s case or that of the women tourists because it has been quiet for a while now.”
Tana said the metro’s beaches were not “no go areas” and people could still visit them as long as they remained vigilant at all times.
Asked why Buffalo City Metro had not put up signs warning members of the public to be cautious in a known danger zone, spokesman Keith Ngesi said: “We do put signs in our hot spot areas and if there is a need to make more, our amenities department will look into that. As we approach the festive season people are advised to walk in groups and not carry items that will attract criminals.
“Also, they should not go to bushy areas or little-travelled roads.”
Tana said the police were looking into a possible case of robbery but would only formulate charges once a case had been opened.
“The victim has not yet been to the police station as he might still be recovering in hospital,” he said.
Members of the public at the beach said police needed to increase patrols in the area.
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