A Durban Solid Waste (DSW) Parks and Gardens employee was hospitalised on Friday after being robbed and stabbed while on duty at Gandhi Park in Phoenix. The incident has raised fresh concerns regarding the safety of municipal staff working in public spaces and the security of local recreational facilities.
Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were dispatched to the scene after being alerted by a passerby. RUSA spokesperson, Prem Balram, confirmed that officers arrived to find the victim in need of medical attention. Balram said: “Reaction officers interviewed the victim and witnesses. It was established that two female DSW staff members were conducting their duties in the park when a lone male suspect approached them.”
According to witness reports, the suspect produced a knife and proceeded to rob one of the employees of her mobile phone and her handbag, which contained her wallet and various personal documents. The second employee was reportedly unharmed but remained in a state of shock following the confrontation.
During the struggle, the victim sustained a stab wound to her left upper arm. Following the assault, the suspect fled on foot, disappearing into the dense bush area and towards the river that borders Gandhi Park. Reaction officers conducted an extensive search of the surrounding terrain; however, the suspect managed to evade capture and remains at large.
Private medical services arrived shortly after the security teams to stabilise the injured woman. After receiving initial treatment on-site, she was transported to a nearby medical facility for further care. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is expected to investigate the matter further, and municipal workers have called for increased patrols in the area to prevent similar attacks on staff and residents.
