A Cape Town family has been left traumatised after their son narrowly escaped death when he was attacked by three men armed with a golf club and a panga.
Keagan Visagie, 17, from Northpine, was viciously attacked and his thumb hacked off in Abbotsdale, just outside Malmesbury.
Three men were arrested after the incident.
Mother, Jacqueline Visagie, says she, her son and two of his cousins were visiting her ill father in the area,” she told the African News Agency (ANA).
“I was visiting my father, but left on Wednesday (13 January) and left the boys there who would see that my father ate. The boys, aged 15, 16 and 17, were attacked at about 11.30pm.”
The mother said she got a call from her godchild, who said Keagan had been attacked.
“According to the boys, earlier that evening a girl came to ask for water. She just came in and one of the boys told her she cannot just enter the home as she pleases and pushed her out,” said Jacqueline.
The mother said the boys were sitting in front of the house when they noticed three men coming down the road with weapons and started running.
“Keagan ran, but became tired and his knee gave in as he had a big knee surgery last year,” she says.
“He asked them what he did (wrong) and they hit him in his neck with a golf stick and started hitting him with a machete too.
“A woman in the street shouted just as they were about to give him a blow to his head and these men ran away.”
The teen, who celebrated his birthday a week prior, was rushed to Swartland Hospital and then transferred to Tygerberg Hospital.
“Keagan has stitches in his face. His hand was chopped with the machete and he sustained nerve damage to his left hand. His thumb, fortunately, could be reattached.
“He had his second operation on Monday and may have more. He is extremely traumatised, but we will be getting him counselling,” the mom said.
Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that three suspects were arrested and appeared in the Malmesbury Magistrates’ Court.
“The victim sustained stab wounds to his left cheek and left hand. An attempted murder case was registered for investigation. Three suspects, aged 20, 28 and 29, were arrested. The suspects appeared in court on Monday and are remanded in custody at Medium B Correctional Services in Malmesbury,” he said.
Jacqueline said seeing her child’s attackers broke her in court: “As I saw them coming up from the dock at court I burst out crying. You could see on their faces they were hardened criminals. We just want justice.
The three are expected to apply for bail tomorrow.
African News Agency (ANA)