Klapmuts resident Andrew Klein has been hailed a hero after he was murdered when he came to the rescue of a young woman who was being gang-raped by nine men.
The 26-year-old mother says on Friday, 24 August, she was with three friends when they were approached by an unknown group of men.
“We were on our way home from the tavern, and I was a little drunk,” she tells the Daily Voice.
“We saw these men, but didn’t expect any trouble. There were nine of them.
“We were walking past the Klapmuts Primary School when they attacked us.
“Two of my friends managed to run away but the third one was stabbed, and then the men dragged me to a dark field where they took turns raping me,” the traumatised woman says.
SPOT: Residents at area where attack happened. Picture: Solly Lottering
“I am Xhosa and they were speaking Afrikaans, they were coloured, and I couldn’t understand what they were saying.
“Then a man came walking past and he recognised one of my rapists and asked what they were doing, and they started attacking him. I got up and ran away.”
The young mother went to ask for help at a nearby house with only her t-shirt on.
“The police came and took me to the police station and took my statement but told me that I had to get myself to Stellenbosch hospital to do a rape-kit and DNA tests. I took a taxi to the hospital, but I haven’t received any kind of counselling yet.”
Sharon Jacobs, 40, says her cousin Andrew Klein, 37, died a hero.
She says he was on his way to a friend when he came upon the scene and tried to save the woman.
“They murdered him with a machete, they cut up his back and face, his left eye was out of the socket,” the hartseer woman says.
She says they are now trying to raise funds for his funeral.
If you would like to assist, call Sharon on 078 712 9802.