Nylstroom – A brief visit in the early evening at a friend had an ugly turn for 71-year-old Marieta Kruger when she was attacked by three men after arriving home.
Kruger lives with her son and daughter-in-law, Alwyn and Susara Kruger on a farm on the Kranskop road.
They are the owners of the Jagkamp bar.
She said while driving in to the garage as usually on Saturday, January 31, 2015, she was attacked by three men wearing balaclavas.
They were armed with a gun, handmade knife and a thick steel pipe.
During the struggle that arose, Marieta tried to take one attacker’s gun. She was thrown to the ground violently and tied up.
Her daughter Susara, who was ill at home in bed, heard screaming and thought that her mother slipped and fell.
She opened the door and was also attacked.
The two women were dragged in to the home where the robbers started looking for money.
“We did not have any cash in the house. I started crying and said they could take anything, but just don’t hurt us”, Susara said to Die Pos newspaper.
The men were not interested in the pellet gun or .22 rifles and only took jewelry, purses, cell phones, and a laptop.
The two women were locked in Marieta’s room because it was the only room with a key.
The men then fled.
“We waited a few minutes before we used a brick to bust a hole in the door so we could get out. There were no cell phones left to call for help“, said Susara.
“In December I bought a new car. I was so afraid that they would steal my car.
“When they attacked me in the garage, I threw my keys under the car. We found the key there again and drove to my son at Die Jagkamp where they called the police”, said Marieta.
When Die Pos newspaper’s journalist visited her, her body was still blue in places. She had a swollen blue eye where they stepped on her face. The women were shocked, but otherwise unharmed.
“We are usually very safety conscious. Our house is very safe with thick burglar bars on all the windows. Even our Jack Russell puppy, which usually is very fierce, was quiet”, said Susara.
She said that they will improve safety measures at their home.
The women said that the police responded quickly.
Warrant Officer James Findlay of the Modimolle police said that a case of house robbery is under investigation. No one has been arrested.
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