A 64-year-old woman was rushed to hospital after she and her son were attacked by knife-wielding thugs while crossing the Willis Road pedestrian bridge on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Rina Holder (64) and her son Johan (45) were walking, as they do daily, when two unknown men confronted them at knifepoint. The terrifying incident left Rina with a stab wound, requiring 18 stitches, while both mother and son were left traumatised and without their belongings.
Speaking to the Ladysmith Herald, Rina said they never expected to be threatened with death while simply walking through town.“Both men had knives. One put his knife to my throat and told me that if I moved, they would kill me,” Johan recalled.
The robbers demanded Rina’s handbag. In her panic, she struggled to remove it, which enraged one of the attackers, who stabbed her before snatching the bag. The thugs then fled the scene with her handbag and cellphone.
With no way to call for help, Rina and Johan walked more than two kilometres to the police station, despite Rina bleeding heavily from her wound. “I was very worried about my mother because she was losing a lot of blood, but we managed to reach the station, where the police helped us get to the hospital,” Johan said.
A case of robbery is being investigated, but no arrests have been made.
Rina expressed relief that they were not killed or more seriously injured, but warned the community about the growing dangers of walking in Ladysmith.“People need to know that it is no longer safe to walk the streets,” she cautioned.
The Willis Road pedestrian bridge, where the attack took place, is a busy route frequently used by people travelling to and from town. Rina and Johan highlighted concerns about the overgrown vegetation, which creates dangerous hiding spots for criminals.
