A video
showing a homeless man allegedly assaulting another in Bellville has gone
viral.
The video,
taken at 04:55 in Burlington street, Oakdale shows the alleged attacker walking
behind a man, who was carrying a plastic bag. The alleged attacker quickly
catches up with the man before hitting him over the head with what looks like a
panga or a pole.
In the
video, the victim collapsed and was lying in the road while the man appeared to
steal his goods.
The video
was posted on the Oakdale Watch Facebook page and within five hours had over
1000 views.
According
to Tommy Milakovic, chairperson of the neighbourhood watch, both men are
believed to be homeless.
The owner
of the security camera, Natasha Groenewald, says she woke up when she
heard the attack. When she rushed outside with her husband the alleged
assailant had already left.
The man who
was attacked recovered “quickly” and walked on where he looked for goods in
garbage cans. He didn’t want Groenewald calling the police for assistance.
Groenewald,
who is part of the neighbourhood watch, says they went looking for the
assailant, but he couldn’t be found.
She did
find three people jogging alone, she adds, “completely oblivious (to the
threat)”.
Milakovic
says it’s concerning to see people walking around with weapons in the
neighbourhood. “It is horrible what transpired.”
He urged
residents to remain vigilant as there are “criminal elements who hide [among]
the vagrants”.
