The
assailants
stole
belongings,
stripped
male
victims
naked
and
left
some
with
severe
injuries
requiring
hospital
treatment.
Ward
10
Councillor
Khalazani
Ndlovu
confirmed
to
CITE
the
attacks,
which
occurred
around
5pm
to
6pm
on
Thursday
and
expressed
deep
concern
over
the
rising
crime
rate
in
the
area.
“People
in
Entumbane
are
not
okay.
People
are
frightened
and
the
whole
community
is
shaken,”
Ndlovu
said.
“Residents
were
attacked
at
different
points
along
the
railway
line.
Some
were
coming
from
church,
others
from
work,
and
some
were
just
crossing
to
Richmond.
The
thieves
took
everything
they
had
–
phones,
clothes,
even
jackets
and
trousers.
Some
men
were
stripped
naked.”
The
councillor
added
that
while
some
women
were
spared
physical
harm,
the
robbers
threatened
to
‘chop
them’
if
they
resisted.
“In
that
afternoon,
some
women
had
their
phones
stolen.
Although
they
were
unharmed
physically,
the
thugs
told
them
they
would
have
chopped
them
but
empathised
with
them,”
Ndlovu
said.
She
added
that
residents
were
confused,
not
knowing
what
to
do
as
the
criminals
reportedly
hid
in
maize
fields,
which
lead
to
Saucerstown
suburb.
“Many
people
have
fields
along
the
railway
leading
to
Saucerstown,
which
is
where
these
thugs
are
said
to
be
hiding
with
their
machetes,”
the
councillor
said.
Ndlovu
said
three
of
the
injured
victims
were
treated
and
discharged,
while
three
others
remain
hospitalised
at
Mpilo
Central
Hospital.
The
councillor
said
she
plans
to
visit
them.
“We
are
engaging
the
police
to
find
solutions.
Maybe
warnings
should
be
issued
and
people
must
avoid
walking
near
the
railway,
especially
at
dusk,”
Ndlovu
noted.
In
an
interview
with
CITE,
one
of
the
victims,
Busani
Sibanda,
shared
his
harrowing
experience.
Sibanda
said
he
was
attacked
after
attending
a
church
service
while
searching
for
cow
dung
with
an
acquaintance
near
the
railway
line.
“My
friend
had
been
calling
me
asking
me
for
cow
dung
because
usually
there
are
some
cows
that
move
along
the
railway.
After
church
I
then
met
up
with
him
while
I
was
with
church
mates
who
then
bade
us
farewell.
After
my
church
mates
had
left,
the
thugs
emerged
from
the
maize
crops
planted
in
the
fields
and
immediately
started
attacking
and
chopping
us
with
their
machetes,”
he
narrated.
“I
don’t
know
if
they
had
been
trailing
us
and
for
how
long
they
had
been
doing
so,
so
that
they
could
attack
whoever
was
left
by
themselves.
They
succeeded
in
their
plans
as
they
left,
having
chopped
our
heads,
hands
and
legs.”
Sibanda
said
he
and
his
acquaintance
could
not
run
away
because
they
were
now
injured.
“My
leg
was
injured
and
painful.
The
thieves
continued
attacking
us
with
their
machetes
and
stole
our
phones,
clothing
and
sneakers,
leaving
us
naked,”
he
said.
Sibanda
suffered
deep
cuts
on
his
head,
hands
and
legs,
requiring
stitches.
“There
were
three
attackers,
two
with
machetes,
one
with
an
axe.
It
was
just
after
6pm,
as
the
sun
was
setting.
I’m
still
in
pain,
particularly
on
the
part
where
I
had
to
receive
stitches
and
the
part
where
they
knocked
me
with
the
axe.
I
am
struggling
to
walk.
They
really
injured
us,”
he
said.
Meanwhile,
the
councillor
hoped
police
would
act
as
residents
now
lived
in
fear,
with
many
questioning
their
safety
even
in
broad
daylight.
“These
criminals
are
bold,
attacking
people
coming
from
church,
work
or
as
they
go
about
their
routines.
What
next?”
Ndlovu
asked,
calling
for
increased
community
vigilance
and
patrols.
“I
urge
people
to
avoid
isolated
areas,
especially
near
the
railway
line.
Travel
in
groups,
particularly
after
sunset
and
report
suspicious
activity
immediately.”