Repossessor Nearly Beat To Death In South Africa
Repossessor Nearly Beat To Death In South Africa
Phumuzani Mvelase narrowly escaped death on Friday.
The 32-year-old and his friend Shaun Siqele (35) were attacked in KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, while trying to repossess a taxi.
A taximan had not paid his instalments since 2017 and the bank asked the company Phumuzani worked for to collect it. The taximan apparently owed R349 000.
Speaking from hospital yesterday, Phumuzani, a pastor at Tetelestai Dunamis Church, told Daily Sun it was only by God’s will that he was still alive.
He said he had arranged with a driver to collect the taxi and it never crossed his mind he might be attacked.
He said when they got to KwaDumisa Village, the taxi driver called residents and claimed they were trying to steal the vehicle. The group started beating them with sticks and other objects.
“We don’t know how we survived. These people wanted to kill us but later took us to the police station, saying we were thugs.”
He said some men poured petrol over them and tried to set them alight. But a number of residents told them to stop. He said he and Shaun were left with broken legs and facial injuries.
Phumuzani’s mum Zanele Khumalo (55) had tried to open a case, but cops said the victims needed to do it themselves when they were released from hospital.
She said police only went to see her son in hospital on Sunday after she demanded to see the station commander.
Cops spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said a case of assault was opened at Sawoti Police Station.