A Kidd’s Beach woman described the terror she and her two passengers experienced when a gang of thugs attacked their vehicle with rocks and long knives at Gulu Beach on Sunday afternoon.
In an impulsive stroke of bravery‚ Phyl Schenk drove headlong towards the gang when she saw them attack an elderly couple and their son.
The gang turned on her vehicle‚ leaving her double cab bakkie with a shattered windscreen‚ smashed side mirror and deeply pockmarked bodywork.
“They wanted to kill us. I have no doubt about that‚” she said.
Schenk‚ 68‚ said she and her husband Aubrey‚ 75‚ were showing a friend around East London’s beaches and decided to have a look at Gulu River Mouth at about 3pm.
“We know it is unsafe there‚ but we just wanted to go to the old bridge at the river and immediately turn back.”
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch on Monday afternoon‚ a badly shaken Schenk described how she saw three men assaulting three people in a “small white car”.
“I could see the son was being forced to open the boot while one of the gangsters attacked the old man. One of the thugs was also trying to pull the old lady from the back seat of the car.
“They had long-bladed knives and so my initial reaction was to get out of there‚ but then I thought those people were going to get killed‚ so I put foot.”
Hooter blaring‚ she drove towards the scene‚ only to be confronted by about five or six more men – one clad in a balaclava – who emerged from the bush.
“One tried to stab me through my window and if it had not been for the special reinforced glass he would have struck me in the temple and killed me. He had such hate in his eyes – they all did.”
Schenk sped to the end of the narrow road‚ made a U-turn and drove headlong back toward the gang‚ who pelted her windscreen‚ bonnet and doors with rocks.
By this time the initial attack victims had grabbed the opportunity to drive away from the scene‚ but Schenk overtook them and sped to Kidd’s Beach police station.
“A man on the other side of the river saw what happened and called the K9 Unit so they already knew about it and the police were there very quickly and arrested two men.”
Schenk said that in addition to the K9 Unit‚ police and a private security firm‚ her husband and neighbours also returned to the scene with firearms.
“The old couple and their son came to visit us on Sunday evening. They were completely traumatised. I am still shaking and could not sleep.
“These people were out to kill in order to get what they wanted and I want to warn people that Gulu Mouth is a no-go area.”
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana confirmed that two men aged 32 and 42 were arrested and a case of robbery opened.
Knives and a toy gun were recovered.
He said the elderly couple had been robbed of cellphones‚ watch‚ spectacles and money and that anyone with information about the suspects still at large should call Kidd’s Beach police at (043)781-1500 or 08600-10111.
Woman takes on armed gangsters in Gulu
A Kidd’s Beach woman described the terror she and her two passengers experienced when a gang of thugs attacked their vehicle with rocks and long knives at Gulu Beach on Sunday afternoon.
In an impulsive stroke of bravery‚ Phyl Schenk drove headlong towards the gang when she saw them attack an elderly couple and their son.
The gang turned on her vehicle‚ leaving her double cab bakkie with a shattered windscreen‚ smashed side mirror and deeply pockmarked bodywork.
“They wanted to kill us. I have no doubt about that‚” she said.
Schenk‚ 68‚ said she and her husband Aubrey‚ 75‚ were showing a friend around East London’s beaches and decided to have a look at Gulu River Mouth at about 3pm.
“We know it is unsafe there‚ but we just wanted to go to the old bridge at the river and immediately turn back.”
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch on Monday afternoon‚ a badly shaken Schenk described how she saw three men assaulting three people in a “small white car”.
“I could see the son was being forced to open the boot while one of the gangsters attacked the old man. One of the thugs was also trying to pull the old lady from the back seat of the car.
“They had long-bladed knives and so my initial reaction was to get out of there‚ but then I thought those people were going to get killed‚ so I put foot.”
Hooter blaring‚ she drove towards the scene‚ only to be confronted by about five or six more men – one clad in a balaclava – who emerged from the bush.
“One tried to stab me through my window and if it had not been for the special reinforced glass he would have struck me in the temple and killed me. He had such hate in his eyes – they all did.”
Schenk sped to the end of the narrow road‚ made a U-turn and drove headlong back toward the gang‚ who pelted her windscreen‚ bonnet and doors with rocks.
By this time the initial attack victims had grabbed the opportunity to drive away from the scene‚ but Schenk overtook them and sped to Kidd’s Beach police station.
“A man on the other side of the river saw what happened and called the K9 Unit so they already knew about it and the police were there very quickly and arrested two men.”
Schenk said that in addition to the K9 Unit‚ police and a private security firm‚ her husband and neighbours also returned to the scene with firearms.
“The old couple and their son came to visit us on Sunday evening. They were completely traumatised. I am still shaking and could not sleep.
“These people were out to kill in order to get what they wanted and I want to warn people that Gulu Mouth is a no-go area.”
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana confirmed that two men aged 32 and 42 were arrested and a case of robbery opened.
Knives and a toy gun were recovered.
He said the elderly couple had been robbed of cellphones‚ watch‚ spectacles and money and that anyone with information about the suspects still at large should call Kidd’s Beach police at (043)781-1500 or 08600-10111.
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