The Durban Solid Waste (DSW) Parks and Gardens employee who was robbed and stabbed while carrying out municipal duties at Gandhi Park.
Image: Supplied
A DURBAN Solid Waste (DSW) employee was robbed and stabbed while on duty at Gandhi Park in Phoenix. The incident occurred when a lone suspect confronted the worker, leading authorities to search the area.
According to Prem Balram of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), a passerby alerted reaction officers to the incident.
“Members of Reaction Unit South Africa were called out to the scene by a passerby. Reaction officers interviewed the victim and witnesses,” said Balram.
He said two female DSW staff members were working in the park when a lone suspect confronted them.
“It was established that two DSW staff members were conducting their duties in the park when a lone male suspect approached them. The suspect produced a knife and robbed one of the employees of her cellphone, as well as her handbag containing a wallet and personal documents,” Balram said.
During the robbery, the employee was stabbed in the arm.
“During the robbery, the victim sustained one stab wound to her left upper arm. The suspect fled on foot towards the river and dense bush area within Gandhi Park,” he added.
Balram said reaction officers conducted an extensive search of the area, but they could not locate the suspect.
Meanwhile, Gareth Naidoo of KZN VIP Protection Services said their emergency medical teams were also alerted by a passerby.
“Upon arrival, KZN VIP medics established that the female had sustained a serious stab wound to her arm after being attacked.”
Naidoo added that the victim was believed to have been working in the area with other municipal workers when the attack occurred.
“The suspect fled the scene on foot into nearby dense bushes. Members of SAPS, together with KZN VIP reaction officers and other security stakeholders, immediately began searching the surrounding area for the suspect.
“KZN VIP medics stabilised the patient on scene before transporting her to a nearby medical facility for further medical treatment,” he said.