A 77-year-old resident of Pietersburg, Rita Bezuidenhout, was shot in the chest by an armed robber on Saturday May 16, 2015 in the early hours.
Two men gained access to her home by breaking the palisade fence in front of the house and also the burglar bars of a window.
The two armed robbers carried all electronic devices such as TV, laptop and cell phones from the house before they stormed into her room as well as another room where a relative slept.
Bezuidenhout claims she’s a light sleeper. I woke up when the man was standing in front of my bed. I screamed and then a gunshot went off. My hand was apparently on my chest because the bullet hit my thumb. The bullet penetrated my chest and stuck in my neck, “she said.
She said the thieves knew exactly where to look for what they wanted. “They knew where I store my handbag and where in the wardrobe is my jewelry box. Cash was stolen from my wardrobe,” she said.
Bezuidenhout’s husband died in February and she was staying alone in the house. The family member stayed over on the evening of the incident.
She was admitted in a local hospital on Saturday morning and the bullet was removed from her neck. She was discharged on Monday.
“After 11 years in my house I don’t want to go back. My children do not want me to return either. The house will probably be sold,” said Bezuidenhout.
Bezuidenhout warned people to be on the alert at all times.
“Nothing keeps them out, no matter what security measures you take. If they want to break in, they will find a way. The electric fence and house alarm’s wires were cut before they broke in.”
The Police’s head of communications, Ntobeng Phala confirmed the incident.
Source – Polokwane Observer
South Africa Today – South Africa News
