GAUTENG. – Maria, a 60-year-old woman, was seriously injured after she was struck on the head with a spade during a home robbery in Van der Hoffweg, Pretoria, on Wednesday evening.
Andrea Wessels, Maria's daughter, tells Nuusflits her mother suffered a fractured skull and must undergo surgery on Monday to remove bone fragments. The family's goal now is to make the home safe for when her mother returns. For this purpose, a crowdfunding profile has been created. The incident occurred in a rural area which according to Andrea is near Kirkney Village, in Andeon, Camdeboo West.
Capt. Johan van Dyk, police spokesperson, tells Nuusflits Hercules police were called to a home in Van der Hoffweg shortly after 22:00 following a report of a home robbery and attempted murder. According to a witness, two unknown men approached the home around 22:00. The witness ran into the house and shut the door, after which the suspects allegedly kicked it open. The suspects went to the victim's room where they broke a window and struck her on the head with a spade. They then fled the scene.
Police located the injured woman at Pretoria-West hospital where she received medical treatment. She sustained a serious head wound and was unable to speak at that stage according to police. A Samsung cellphone was allegedly stolen during the incident.
The motive for the attack is unknown. Crime investigation officers visited the scene and collected evidence that could help the investigation. Police are investigating the case and appeal to anyone with information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects to come forward.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
