The attack has stoked fears about safety around the popular hiking route, while one the victims said that gaps in patrols and a slow response from law enforcement worsened their ordeal.
The assault happened below Lion’s Head in broad daylight as the pair were descending down the path towards Camps Bay Glen. According to one of the victims, Paul, the trail was active, with other hikers nearby.
“We saw three people approaching us from behind,” Paul told Cape Talk, describing the trio of offenders as one young adult and two children that “were probably around 12 years old.”
The group asked for food and claimed they were hungry. Paul believes this was a strategy to distract him and separate him from his wife.
“Moments later, they all produced knives and randomly began attacking us.”
The intention was to attack
Paul said the violence appeared to be deliberate, and not opportunistic, and that the suspects didn’t wait for the couple to take out their wallets.
Paul’s wife was stabbed while trying to defend herself, while Paul himself was knocked to the ground and briefly lost consciousness.
“The two youngsters attacked my wife, who ended up on her back trying to fight them off,” Paul said.
“She ended up with slash wounds on her lips and cheek, and a shallow stab wound to her stomach.”
“The adult lunged at me with a knife. I took a couple of steps back trying to fight him off and in the process I tripped and my head hit a rock and concussed myself.”
The attackers then fled with the woman’s cellphone.
Slow response from SANParks and SAPS
After the attack, the couple screamed for help, knowing other hikers were in the vicinity, but no assistance came.
Paul said they later encountered a SANParks vehicle further down The Glen with several officials inside.
“Four officials were sitting in the car, talking on their phones, talking to each other and you could still clearly hear other shouting on the mountain
While assistance was offered once contact was made, Paul questioned why they weren’t patrolling the area.
Paul also criticised the response from SAPS. He said that there was no immediate attempt by police officials to return to the scene, nor search for suspects, and that no effort was made to trace the stolen phone.
A formal case was only opened the following day after repeated follow-ups.
Post-traumatic stress
While both victims have physically recovered from their ordeal below Lion’s Head, Paul said that the emotional impact remains.
“Last night my wife locked the bedroom door,” Paul added. “It will probably take some time before we return to the mountain again.”
