An up-and-coming Nyanga artist says he was assaulted because of jealousy and his drawing hand was nearly broken.
Anathi Mkafu, who recently launched his own app, NaTe, for his art, says he was attacked on Saturday by people he knows.
“It was around 9pm, I was walking alone from the shop, not far from my house, I saw the guys walking behind me but I didn’t even notice they were following me,” he says.
“I saw that they were armed with knives and they also had an axe. I didn’t even notice who they were but they made it clear that they knew me and they called my name.”
He says they robbed him and hit him with the axe.
“They didn’t use the sharp end but they wanted to break my right hand which I use to draw. They pulled me by my chains which broke and they took them.
“I started fighting back when they wanted to take my jacket, which I drew my face on, and they tried to take my shoes and they threatened to kill me.”
Anathi adds: “I am trying to put my township on the map. I’m only a hustler, fighting hard to succeed and then people hate me for that.”
Nyanga CPF has condemned the attack on the young artist.
Secretary Dumisani Qwebe says: “The attack on people who are trying to better their lives with their God-given talents has got to stop. No one has a right to treat people that way.
“We as the CPF would like all the victims who have similar cases to come forward, we are going to make sure that the suspects are brought to book.”
Anathi says he made a case, however, police did not respond to queries yesterday.